Gold and silver for Barter?

[Balian]

Personally I think Gold and Silver and are going to be excellent for bartering/buying items when SHTF and that's is one reason I have a core holding off them.

If it does go pear shaped you will always have these people who will 'black market' deal and trade you whatever you want.

They most likely won't take any 'cash' as it this stage it's unlikely to be worth the paper it's written on but they will take precious metals which has been currency for thousands of years.

Remember 1 oz of gold would buy you the equivalent of 100 bottles of alcohol or 200 packets of cigs, so its a lot easier stored/hidden, until needed.

If you want a modern example of how precious metals work for barter when SHTF, watch this vid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ubJp6rmUYM

[Bladerunner]

If you are going to spend money on things for bartering like Gold, Silver, Booze, Fags, etc.
why not just buy the things you would want to barter FOR in the first place?

If you really do need to barter then buy silver rather than gold. No good having an ounce of gold if all you want is a bottle of milk and some eggs.
An ounce of silver is less than £20.
Short term, people are going to want their luxuries like chocolate, booze, tobacco, etc. because they are idiots.
So you could stock up on these relatively cheaply.
3 quid will get you a kilo of ASDA chocolate and it tastes great.
If someone has hens then they are more than likely going to be happy to swap a few eggs that they get for free for a bar of choccy, nom, nom, nom.
Bartering does involve meeting up with other people which brings it's own risks so be careful who you meet and what you offer them.
Skills are without the doubt the best thing to barter with as no one can kill you for them.
Doctors, dentists, mechanics, etc are going to do well post SHTF.
When things settle down to some kind of normality, even if it isn't anything like normal, then other skills will be useful. Something as overlooked as a hairdresser will be able to ply their trade as hair still grows even if there is no government. Sounds daft but there you go.
And as for trading a BJ for a bottle of wine, I think I have a case out the back.
Use some common sense and BE LUCKY.

[poppypiesdad]

I'm going to stock pile compressed air , before our wonderful government taxes that too , I'll be rich I tell ya , rich.
J

[Haplo2481]

regardless of what some people think, silver and gold will always be in demand. Throughout the toughest times in history (the dark ages, the back death and various wars) gold, silver and jewels have always been desirable and held their value. there will always be people with enough resources that don't need to worry about having to eat their silver and will be able to wait out until they can trade on it again.
Personally I think a supply of low content silver coins will be a valuable trading asset.

[23pioneer]

in my opinion i think one of the best things you can have to barter are seeds, they are plentiful and cheap at the moment stock pile now and buy good quality ones on a lighter side if you send me 400 quid i will send you a naked picture of me and when TSHTF put it in your window and no one will come knocking - cheap at half the price

[Capa]

And as for trading a BJ for a bottle of wine, I think I have a case out the back.

I can tell I'm going to be a busy (but thankfully not hungry or thirsty!) girl if TSHTF!!!! May take me awhile to work through my own supplies here though!

[ForgeCorvus]

If you are going to spend money on things for bartering like Gold, Silver, Booze, Fags, etc.
why not just buy the things you would want to barter FOR in the first place?

Because its hard to stockpile chickens ?

[12mp82]

Because its hard to stockpile chickens ?

Maybe, but breeding them and incubating the eggs might be a useful lesson to learn

[12mp82]

Quail eggs are good for this as well and very easy to do

[preppingsu]

If you are going to spend money on things for bartering like Gold, Silver, Booze, Fags, etc.
why not just buy the things you would want to barter FOR in the first place?

Because its hard to stockpile chickens ?

So you breed them and try and make sure you have breeding stock.