When society collapses...

[Ssappington]

What's better "currency" for bartering?
Ammo or silver?

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[Longwalkhome]

I am no expert, however there are a lot of guys here that have thought this out better than I have.

My answer is "depends on the times".

 

[Flymph]

If trade is established, it will likely be neither. Silver has no direct essential value in a survival situation, and only has a perceived value as currency and fabrication. Ammo is likely better as it offers value in defense and hunting situations, however if you are able to trade it implies some level of stability in which defense is less of a concern than say hygeine and sustenance.
I'd stack cleaning supplies, food stuff and fuels for intended barter. Those items have the advantage of not being used against you as well.
If the crisis is short term, I would definitely trade my TP and soap for silver tho.

Depends is the most encompassing answer.

 

[JustSomeGuy]

I would never barter ammo or weapons of any sort. I have a thing about trading away something that could potentially be used against me at some point in the future.

As far as silver goes, as with everything else, it's only worth what someone will give you for it.

 

[Ssappington]

If trade is established, it will likely be neither. Silver has no direct essential value in a survival situation, and only has a perceived value as currency and fabrication. Ammo is likely better as it offers value in defense and hunting situations, however if you are able to trade it implies some level of stability in which defense is less of a concern than say hygeine and sustenance.
I'd stack cleaning supplies, food stuff and fuels for intended barter. Those items have the advantage of not being used against you as well.
If the crisis is short term, I would definitely trade my TP and soap for silver tho.

Depends is the most encompassing answer.

Wow! Great answer- things I hadn't thought of!

 

[Caveman Jim]

Bartering is the trading of goods and services.
Any other method is buying with currency whether gold, silver or TP (paper bills) in a SHTF scenario.

 

[CRBMoA]

Neither. People will need FOOD!

 

[Knute]

Ammo (guns & butter)...age old wisdom. Safety first and then you got to eat, and ammo could fix both of those for you…

 

[RedRover]

Are we talking "Mad Max" society collapse, "Waterworld" society collapse, "The Terminator" society collapse or "Night of the Living Dead" society collapse?

Or are we talking about a temporary society collapse; IE. 'Market collapse'/'Great Depression', 'Civil War', 'Natural Disaster' etc., lasting for a duration until society rises from the ashes again?

 

[Soli]

People who aren't steeped in barter overestimate their ability.

Unless you come from a barter culture it won't matter what you have to trade. You'll get robbed blind.

If both parties to the transaction are the common modern American (bad at relationships, self important, confident to the point of arrogance and have rarely bartered, much less bartered in a life/death environment with a stranger) the transaction will often be like two virgins bubbleguming; confusion, blood, tears, and regret.

Like so may things in prepping the "what" isn't important compared to the experience and skill.

 

[Member 34319]

Cigarettes.

 

[Xaevian]

Start your own program, water for daughters!

 

[clanhanson]

Copenhagen Long Cut. And if they see you have it and you don't give it to them, you're dead anyway so might as well trade!

 

[No_Regerts]

Sexual favors, by far.

 

[The Heretic]

Stuff happens.

Things change.

You have to be flexible in bad times.

I would barter a number of things, but not precious metals as they have little to no intrinsic value in a complete collapse situation, and for the typical person, it is hard to detect whether they are genuine or not. If I accept a silver coin/ingot/whatever, then I cannot use it for anything until the next time I barter.

Fuel, food, water, tools, services, shelter, these things I can both barter and use.

 

[titsonritz]

If trade is established, it will likely be neither. Silver has no direct essential value in a survival situation, and only has a perceived value as currency and fabrication. Ammo is likely better as it offers value in defense and hunting situations, however if you are able to trade it implies some level of stability in which defense is less of a concern than say hygeine and sustenance.
I'd stack cleaning supplies, food stuff and fuels for intended barter. Those items have the advantage of not being used against you as well.
If the crisis is short term, I would definitely trade my TP and soap for silver tho.

Depends is the most encompassing answer.

Agreed, TP, cigs and chew would probably be better than both.

 

[albin25]

Trade goods can be stolen or attract thugs and need to be stored and protected, usually can't be easily moved. If you got ammo to trade you got ammo to be killed for.
.... A person with a skill has trade value and if it's a skill like first-aid, or fixing generators, booze production, food production, ietc.... it'll go a long way towards keeping you alive. Golf pro.... not so much.... but a medic?...you're golden!

 

[No_Regerts]

Think about it, it will be just like when Eve realized she was sitting on a gold mine. "Gimme that here apple, and you can have THIS!"

 

[308]

Sexual favors, by far.

$20 is $20

 

[Soli]

Playing the game rather than being a curmudgeon, the absolute best (and hence most dangerous if people know you have it) things to trade are drugs. Small and light, easily stored/hidden, useful when needed like little else in the modern world.

Pain killers, antibiotics, antihistamines, benzodiazepines, etc.

In collapse they'll be most missed. We don't know how good we have it.

One of my greatest fears of collapse are the percentage of the population on psychotropics. You think people act crazy now? lol