30 Bartering Items You Can Afford

By Jessica, April 15, 2012

If you’re moderately familiar with prepping in general you’ve probably heard more than once the need to stock up on alcohol, cigarettes, gold and silver for bartering purposes. While these items are definitely some of the best bartering opportunities, they are also very expensive.

On top of that I’m not sure that having shelves of booze when your morale may be in jeopardy is a good idea. Then add in the fact that I’m a ‘Mormon’ and the idea of stocking up on liquor and smokes just doesn’t work for me.

All in all if you have the funds – go for it. Buy all the gold and silver coins you can get your hands on and make your basement look like a wine cellar. But if you’re like me, and the majority of Americans today, consider stocking up on some less expensive bartering opportunities:

1.  Toilet Paper
2. Chap Stick
3. Eye Drops
4. Matches
5. Bleach
6. Bandages
7. Warm Clothing (Purchase used coats for bartering at your local D.I., Goodwill or other thrift store. At D.I. you’ll find tons of coats and other clothing for under $5)
8. Tape
9. Water
10. Sugar
11. Flour
12. Feminine Supplies
13. Condoms (People get bored without electricity…)
14. Flu/Cold Medication
15. Lotion
16. Soap
17. Ziploc or Garbage Bags
18. Seeds
19. Sunscreen
20. Fever/Inflammation Reducer
21. Pain Relievers
22. Pens
23. Ramen Noodles (I have my family’s food storage, then a 10 foot tall stack of Ramen Noodles to trade with others.)
24. Neosporin
25. Toothpaste
26. Water Purification Tablets
27. Milk Powder (A large percentage of people consume dairy on a daily basis. One can of my favorite powdered milk cost me $20 and makes 20 Quarts. This means I could trade a whole quart of milk and it’d only have cost me a dollar. That’s magnificent bartering value.)
28. Rope
29. Plastic Wrap
30. Sanitizer

Now keep in mind that this is my top bartering items list for those of us on a budget. There are obviously some other great items you can trade that are on the more costly side. Things like fuel, bullets and batteries.
The easiest way to come up with cheap trades is to think of scenarios throughout the day in which you feel discomfort and you use something small/cheap to remedy the situation.

Chap Stick for example: If you have chronic chapped lips like myself you understand the annoyance chapped lips can bring. But if left without remedy that little annoyance can turn into injury, bringing problems like cold sores, bleeding cracked lips and so on. We often take for granted the small things that keep us from needing bigger interventions.

What other cheap items do you have stashed for bartering purposes?

Share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below.