[Suepreme]

I had a boss who moved his family to a lovely piece of land in Central Oregon with its own water source. They also set themselves up with cows, chickens, orchards and an organic garden. Basically, if all of our systems were to suddenly come to a screeching halt (no water, power, store shelves stocked with food, etc.), his family wouldn't even know it for quite some time.

He encouraged me to invest in real gold bars. Besides being out of my price range, an ounce of gold being worth about $1300ish would be a tough unit to exchange for say, a loaf of bread. However, my biggest concern was that if it came down to it and our currency was no longer accepted, how would you break off a piece of that bar of gold to make a payment? My understanding is that real money needs to be:

1. A Medium of Exchange
2. A Unit of Account
3. Portable
4. Durable
5. Divisible
6. Fungible (Interchangeable)
7. A Store of Value

So, for those who have thought that far ahead, what do you see being the common, viable way of getting the things you need, should such a situation arise, in the absence of paper money?

 

[PaulS]

There are different sizes of gold - rounds, coins, ingots and bars - the same is true for silver but barter will be the safest way to exchange goods.

If I need something and you need something else all we need is someone who has what we need and needs what we have. I have a set of skills and I have batteries, fire makers that anyone can use, alcohol, coffee, cigarettes (tobacco and papers), toilet paper,Feminine hygiene products and the list goes on.

Let's say I need some stainless steel... hat do you need?

There is likely to be people who act as middle men in these trades and they will get something for their involvement. if you are in a group it is likely that you will have more to trade than someone going it alone. Maybe a guy shows up with fresh fish - what would you trade for that?

 

[pheniox17]

Paul has it spot on

water can be more valuable than gold once it goes to shit, barter will be key, gold and silver coins are a good idea, even bic lighters will have a massive jump in value

if your looking to trade (and your set up enough in other areas) basic tools, equipment, ammo are up there, and look at this post

http://www.prepperforums.net/forum/...-talk/6482-hot-bartering-items.html#post94633

 

[paraquack]

While I've given thought to the idea of bartering with my ammo, would I really want to give someone the tools to kill me or rob me?

 

[Old SF Guy]

Honestly I think Gold and silver etc...are useless for the first few years of a real SHTF scenario...These are metals with only intrinsic value because they are precious and rare. You can't eat them. so only at a point in time that things stabilize to the point that folks think beyond the decade of now will they be worthwhile. A bullet is meat...or security. trade is where it's at. Only when The lines of trade to the east opened up did Gold become the hunted item. Before then it was animal meat and skin. Me...I will take an ounce of lead and powder over an ounce of gold. I may be forever poor...but I will not hunger.

 

[shotlady]

paraquack has made a very astute observation. I have planned to barter sundries. but my biggest plan was ammo. so far I have a brick of 22 and a sack of 9mm reloads. I should try harder

 

[Denton]

Silver and gold has been used as money for centuries. Silver for domestic trade, gold for international trade.

That being said, anything that will will keep for years or will have a large demand will work.

 

[redhawk]

I believe Paul was right in his post. I think barter will be the mode of commerce, especially immediately following the SHTF event. I believe that gold, silver and money (paper or coinage) will be on down on the list of trade items, and food, water and ammo near the top...JM2C

 

[budgetprepp-n]

Gold and silver will be worth a lot but not a first. People that weren't ready for SHTF will need basic survival stuff water,
food, And shelter. I hope to open a trading post and even at first I will accept silver or gold.
Will 1 can of food be worth a ounce of silver? I think yes.

 

[pheniox17]

Gold and silver will be worth a lot but not a first. People that weren't ready for SHTF will need basic survival stuff water,
food, And shelter. I hope to open a trading post and even at first I will accept silver or gold.
Will 1 can of food be worth a ounce of silver? I think yes.

I think not, too high a price = **** this I will kill you for it.....

base it on supply and demand, low supply = high price... simple, but seen ripping people off and you will be in the same situation as john and his castle (on paper anyway)

 

[tango]

Pre 64 silver (junk) coins will be important to have,( More so than gold.), for barter.
Water, food, medicines, clothes, sanitary items, as well as luxury things like alcohol, will be much sought after.

 

[boobytrap]

tango brings up a nice point. I haven't thought about prepping clothes for myself or to barter.

 

[Denton]

Gold and silver will be worth a lot but not a first. People that weren't ready for SHTF will need basic survival stuff water,
food, And shelter. I hope to open a trading post and even at first I will accept silver or gold.
Will 1 can of food be worth a ounce of silver? I think yes.

People who aren't ready for SHTF will have little if anything for barter.

I'm thinking more along the lines of the many lunatics like us who are aware of the seriousness of the world's situation. Around here, there are a whole lot of people who are putting things back, buying silver (I know of only one who is buying gold) and are learning new skills that will be needed.

Honestly, I do not know what to do with the people who refuse to pay attention.

 

[Kauboy]

Coffee, alcohol, .22 rounds, cigarettes, clean water...
Things with intrinsic value, or are considered luxury items.
I'm convinced that gold and silver are intended to hold value over long periods of time, to be traded in for usable currency at a later date.
They have no intrinsic value, as SF said, but they hold value for a LOOONG time due to their durability and rarity.
Therefore, they are an excellent investment vehicle to me, but not a great tradeable currency. (especially at the current market value)
I can't imagine trading goods for "flakes" of gold.

 

[Mrs_Clark]

I'm new at this but I don't think gold or silver will be useful in the beginning and probably not for a while after. Useful barter items will be anything that can feed you or keep you safe. If I'm trading with some one I don't want gold, I want something thats useful now not years down the road. Teaching a skill to someone could be a good bartering tool also.

 

[Denton]

Coffee, alcohol, .22 rounds, cigarettes, clean water...
Things with intrinsic value, or are considered luxury items.
I'm convinced that gold and silver are intended to hold value over long periods of time, to be traded in for usable currency at a later date.
They have no intrinsic value, as SF said, but they hold value for a LOOONG time due to their durability and rarity.
Therefore, they are an excellent investment vehicle to me, but not a great tradeable currency. (especially at the current market value)
I can't imagine trading goods for "flakes" of gold.

OK, now, you just found something that will be good for getting some stuff from me.

 

[Suepreme]

While I've given thought to the idea of bartering with my ammo, would I really want to give someone the tools to kill me or rob me?

Very thought provoking insight. Thank you.

 

[slewfoot]

No gold or silver for me , I'm with Paul and some of the others, stock up on barter items that you can trades with. If you came to me with gold or silver wanting some thing that I have it would be no deal. You can't eat metal.
Also I will not trade away my ammo just so some nut can shoot me with it

 

[slewfoot]

I think not, too high a price = **** this I will kill you for it.....

Is their a reason you and a few others on here cannot type a sentence without using this type of language?
This is a family oriented website, you want your wife and kids to see this kind of Garbage you spout out? If you Don't care and are one of them that talks like this around them and in public then it says something about you.

 

[Kauboy]

OK, now, you just found something that will be good for getting some stuff from me.

If portioned out, it is cheap, easy to store, and a luxury some would kill for.