Bartering happens in war zones. People have written about it. I listed some of the recommended practices for keeping safe. This is the sort of thing you can use AI to research very quickly, and get a lot more detail. It's not infallible, but this is a pretty simple topic. If what it recommends sound sensible, it most likely is. If something sounds off, say so, and see what it's reply is. You can use it for free at the moment.grenfell wrote: ↑Mon Sep 15, 2025 7:13 am Kind of highlights the flaw in bartering. People still tend to "convert" to a monetary value which I suppose is understandable. A loaf might have a monetary worth of a few pounds but it's value is that it keeps us alive. The gold ring has just it's monetary worth. We'd have the same problems with offering labour . In the past I've bartered my time for the someone else's time . I needed help with some accounts and she wanted some gardening work done. It could be argued that an accountant's time is worth more than a gardener's and I came out better . We felt we both came out on top as the work we both wanted doing was done quicker and perhaps better by using each others services. I've also bartered my time for goods which is perhaps harder to quantify. For example I did some work for a customer and was paid in oak worktop offcuts. To her they were just something gluttering up the garage so next to worthless but to me they were the right size for a job I was doing that saved me having to purchase a full length. We could probably have worked out my hourly rate verses the linear cost of the oak but we were both happy with the arrangement. I doubt all transactions would go as amicably but perhaps trying bartering now could be a useful prep "just in case".
Just type something like 'what is good practice for bartering in a shtf scenario?' and you'll get a load of info. Then you can ask questions based on that.
To me, trying to swap bread for gold sounds like a good way to get killed.
I'll keep a eye on the news