Bartering, a new "old" way of doing business...

 In these uncertain times, I like to look back in time and see how people carried on their daily lives. (And did so with ease, in most cases, even without ready cash on hand!)  Here is a list of items I want to try to have on hand to use as a form of barter, but also to make our daily life a bit more "do-able" in case things aren't "normal" (as in a non steady flow of electricity or high fuel costs that would make it something we would have to really regulate how much we use on a daily basis; and possible unaffordable fuel costs that would make travel to and fro something we would need to learn to curtail as well:

Lamp Oil, (Kerosene) Wicks, Lamps

(Thrift stores and garage sales are a good place to look now, but will become scarce if times change for the worse)

Lamp Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult)

Coleman  Fuel cylinders ($2.69-$3.99/gal.) to operate lamps and camp stoves.

Candles; Charcoal; Lighter fluid  

Propane Cylinders (To use our propane BBQ as a cook stove in the event we are without power)

Lantern Hangers

Gasoline containers (Plastic or Metal - metal for longer term storage)  

Matches (3 box/$1 .44; Strike Anywhere)

Flashlights

Honey, real maple syrup, sugars and flour (freeze flour in moisture proof bags if possible)

Rice - Beans - Wheat (some churches have get-to-gethers and repackage food in #10 cans with oxygen absorbers.)

Olive oil, coconut oil, grapeseed oil 

Vitamins  and herbal supplements; GSE; Advil, aspirin, decongestant, etc.

Milk - Powdered & Condensed (Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.) 

Canned Tuna Fish or wild caught Salmon (in oil) Sardines in oil if you like them; canned meat

Garlic, spices; vinegar, baking soda and powder; yeast (keep in freezer) salt; pepper; etc.

Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.

Soy sauce, vinegar, bouillons/gravy/soup base 

Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)

Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky

Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts 

Teas; Coffee

Vodka (for making medicinal tinctures)

Dried soup; dried fruit; dried vegetables; instant rice and potatoes

Pet food

Garden seeds (Non-hybrid or Heirloom seeds only) and gardening books; 

Garden tools; supplies; Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.

Chickens and feed

Water containers (I am saving used 1/2 gallon juice containers that are HARD CLEAR PLASTIC, and refilling them with water and a few drops of GSE as needed during the winter when our water often freezes.)

And we also have numerous 5 gallon containers for longer term use.

Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry) and an old wringer washing machine; clothes line and poles, clothes pins;  laundry detergent (liquid); Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)

Handbooks for advice/tips on survivalism; herbal healing; emergency medical treatment

Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)

Aluminum foil Reg.& Heavy Duty (Great Cooking/Barter item)

Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many.) 

Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage)

Fire extinguishers (or a large box of Baking soda in every room...)

Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)

Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towels

Paper plates/cups/utensils  

Duct tape

Fire extinguishers (or a large box of Baking soda in every room...)

Batteries (all sizes...buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)

Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Winter time)

Cast iron cookware
Fishing supplies/tools 

Hunting supplies; ammo

Radio (solar if possible)

Duct tape

Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes

Writing paper/pads/pencils/erasers/ solar calculators

Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax); Pressure Canner; Hot Water Bath Canner; Vacuum sealer

Hand-Can openers; hand egg beaters, whisks 

Grain Grinder (Non-electric)  

Hand pumps; siphons (for water and for fuels) 

12 volt pump for showering

Hand turned bread kneader

Hand turned popcorn popper

Hygiene items: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, tweezers; etc

Reading glasses

Anti-bacterial soap; anti-bacterial wipes

Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)

First aid kits

Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams

Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)

Work boots, belts, durable clothes

Rain-gear, rubberized boots, etc

Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras) 

Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens 

Backpacks; Duffle bags 

Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats 

Scissors, fabrics; sewing supplies

Knives; Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel

Bicycles; Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)

Board Games Cards, Dice

d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer

Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets

Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes