The Best Bartering Items for When the Grid Goes Down

If, or when, the grid goes down and the economy completely collapses, the new currency will become the random everyday items that we really all take for granted. 

You see, if hyperinflation occurs and the value of the dollar collapses, your credit cards and paper money are all going to become completely worthless. And when the supply trucks stop and all the grocery stores become looted, we’re going to have to turn to another way in order to get the critical supplies that we need for our survival: bartering.

This is why whilst part of your survival stockpile should be for yourself, another part of it needs to consist of items that you could use for bartering with other people to get more of what you need.

Here are the best bartering items for when the grid goes down:

Alcohol

Even if you don’t drink yourself, lots of other people do, and they’ll be very eager to get their hands on it once the supply runs out.

Ammunition

Ammunition, being not easy to produce, will be very valuable.

Even a single round will be capable of being bartered in a grid down disaster because for many people, that single round represents food on the table or protection against a home invader.

Baking Soda

When mixed with water, baking soda can be used to make soap.

If there’s only one personal hygiene item that you are going to barter with, baking soda is it. When mixed with water, baking soda can be used to make soap, shampoo, deodorant, dishwashing soap, toothpaste, and laundry detergent. 

Batteries

All of the common kinds of batteries will be wise to store for bartering purposes because we need batteries to power just about anything that we can’t plug into an electrical outlet. 

Books and Games

Stockpiling paperback copies of books (including survival books) could be very useful.

Without access to the internet or TV, people are going to need alternative means to pass the time, and books and games make likely alternatives. Stockpiling paperback copies of books (including survival books), card decks, and board games won’t be a bad idea. 

Coffee

The only thing that people might like more than alcohol is coffee and caffeine, which is why coffee is going to become a very high-in-demand item during a disaster situation. Besides coffee, you’ll also want to store things such as coffee filters and sugar to help add to the flavor.

Fire-Starting Devices

Firewood is going to become a very valuable commodity.

If the power grid goes down, that means that heating and electricity are going to go away with it. As a result, people will become desperate to get warm, and fire-starting devices and firewood are going to become very valuable items for bartering. This is especially true for people in the city and deep urban areas who don’t have any access to firewood. 

Food

The best food to store for bartering purposes is the same kind of food to store for survival: food that is long-lasting, nutritious, and that doesn’t require freezing or refrigeration. Prime examples of this include flour, white rice, beans, and canned meat and vegetables.

Gasoline

Without any access to fuel stations, gasoline is going to become a very rare and hugely precious commodity. A single gallon of fuel represents the ability to drive one to two dozen miles (or more, depending on the vehicle) and is sure to be worth a lot in a major disaster.

Medications

Medications are sure to be in high demand.

Basic medications such as antibiotics, ibuprofen, and Tylenol will definitely be high in demand. Along with medicines, basic first aid equipment such as bandages, disinfectants, and gauze pads will also be important for you to store for bartering as well.

Pet Food

People love their pets, so storing cat and dog food will be very wise to help appeal to pet lovers.

Seeds

The need to produce your own crops will make seeds valuable. Start saving some now.

Gardening seeds for major crops help enable people to be self-sufficient over the long term. After all, growing your own continuous source of food will be preferable to scavenging for it.

Shoes

Once people’s shoes begin to wear out, they’re going to need replacements, and bartering will be the only way to get them.

Toilet Paper

Toilet paper is something that everyone understands the value of.

The simple reason toilet paper is going to become a very valuable bartering item is because it’s something that everybody needs AND fully understands the value of.