Trade Goods

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Ughubughughughughughghlug

Ughubughughughughughghlug

kiwifarms.net
Joined
May 14, 2019
What goods are good to keep as trade goods (needs to be durable) for a collapse of the economy?
I particularly imagine baby formula (if that keeps, I have no idea) and certain common medicines.

I don't imagine it as a trade good at all, but when hyperinflation still seemed possible I was afraid of running out of cat food. Cats can't eat dog food, they can't eat scraps, they HAVE to have meat, either you can get your hands on meat and your cat lives on that (and probably is still malnourished) or they have to succeed at becoming an outdoor cat that doesn't get fed anymore. I couldn't give less of a shit if my countrymen die but I'd be really worried about their cats too.
 
Unarmed Gunman said:
Bullets.

I forget who said it, and I'm paraphrasing, but if you have enough bullets then all those preppers & gardeners and everyone else planning for collapse are just basically taking care of your shit until you need to come and get it.
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It might seem like that to those inclined to violence, but the things you'd want to steal can't much be stolen unless you plan to enslave those people and keep them under eye constantly. Depending on how many there are, you might even need to have an entire infrastructure, slave foremen and overseers, etc.

And of course, in such a scenario I think I'd make sport of torturing slavers (and thieves) to death. Don't want to live in a world that those people would make. A world where people do work and make things, freely, is a richer world than one where maniacs run around murdering so they can steel a basket full of wormy rutabagas, never minding that next year even those won't be there. A smaller slice of a bigger pie, so to speak. If you have ammunition, spare some to kill some of the slavers. Torture the rest slowly so you don't waste so many rounds.
 
WW2 pilots used to carry escape and evasion kits with stuff they could barter to civilians with in case they got shot down. It was mostly gold jewellery and watches. idk what the 21st century version of that is, they didn't have cheap Casio watches back then, so mechanical movements weren't just for bragging rights, but I think the key is that it needs to be stuff that is lightweight and compact so you can take it with you if you need to move in a hurry.

Actually, on that note a solar quartz movement like one of the ones Vaer makes would be useful in a post collapse scenario. Keeps time and never needs to be recharged or have its battery replaced.
 
BrightonAndHoveAlbion said:
Hard liquor is a safe bet if you want durable.
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The rule is that the higher the proof, the better. Easier to transport and you can always dilute with water later. It will get warm and nasty, but will be more drinkable. We had the good medicinal grade shit back in the old country, in America the closest you can get is Everclear.
 
Beyond alcohol, drugs, and bullets—stamps.

The first service that will return if a collapse happens will be mail. Whatever government exists, and barring that, private agencies will establish a means to get letters and parcels from point a to point b and they will charge for these services. That charge will likely be in the form of stamp books which will have a fairly stable price and a practical purpose. Convenient to keep and trade. They're a really good trade item, its why they're the standard for commerce in prisons.
 
Cigarettes and other forms of nicotine. Or coffee, as mentioned above. All will grow stale after a while but I don't think people will be complaining much about the freshness of a cigar or cup of coffee if it's the first one they've had in a year.
 
Probably the best trade goods are usable skills. Someone can steal (or destroy) you Whisky and Cigarettes stash, but they can't steal your knowledge.
Animal husbandry, tool making skills, fishing/hunting, medical knowledge etc.
Also, you can seem like the poorest of poorfags so people don't want to rob you, but you can trade your knowledge for a hell of a lot, especially if you can save someone's life, or the life of their child.
 
Cnidarian said:
Tell me why coffee grounds wouldn't work as an option.
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You'd be better off with instant coffee. Grounds will go stale and taste like shit, and requires more work and equipment.

Alcohol, cheap BIC or Djeep lighters, rolling papers, pens and pencils, razor/utility blades, antibiotics, and amphetamines.
 
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