Trade goods

[Jim in MO]

One of the things I keep from my weekly hotel stays are the little bars of soap, shampoo, lotion, and coffee packets. After all of this time on the road I must have hundreds of them. My thought is to make individual packets with a few of each and then seal them with our food saver and use them as trade items. My thought is to put two bars of soap, two packets of coffee and one each shampoo and lotion. What else do you think I should put in them? I was thinking maybe a small travel size toothpaste or something along that line.

Any suggestions?


Jim in MO

 

[bluefire]

Since you've got a 'grooming' theme going there, how little cheapo pocket comb?

 

[Jim in MO]

Do you think I should leave the coffee out and use that elsewhere?

 

[registered_lurker]

Personally I don't think I would want any coffee that had been vacuum packed in the same container with soap, but that's just me...

 

[Jim in MO]

Personally I don't think I would want any coffee that had been vacuum packed in the same container with soap, but that's just me...

Good point. What about one pack for personal hygiene and a different one with say coffee and some small containers of say salt and pepper?

Just trying to think of things to do with all of these. The coffee packets are in 4 cup filter packs. I’ve got them in shoe boxes at the moment and I just counted and there are 225 coffee packets

 

[Freeholder]

That's a good idea for trade goods, since they are free . . . if I was buying something for trade goods, I would go for chocolate, I think, or coffee, except that my grandmother says coffee doesn't keep more than a few months (I haven't told her that I have two containers of the coffee she drinks in my stash, and it's been there a couple of years!).

Kathleen

 

[DarkImbolc]

if I was buying something for trade goods, I would go for chocolate,

Post-SHTF trade goods that will fetch the highest price will be goods that are necissary but hard to manufacture (auto/bicycle parts, books - particularly how-to's, fuel, certain fabrics, etc.) or luxuries that are like-wise difficult to make by yourself or come by (TOBACCO!, chocolate, booze, etc).

 

[Jim in MO]

Post-SHTF trade goods that will fetch the highest price will be goods that are necissary but hard to manufacture (auto/bicycle parts, books - particularly how-to's, fuel, certain fabrics, etc.) or luxuries that are like-wise difficult to make by yourself or come by (TOBACCO!, chocolate, booze, etc).

How would you store tobacco long term. I know it dries out fairly fast. What about the little single serving bottles of booze?

 

[Lindabel]

with the coffee, what about small packets of sugar & the powdered creamer, salt, pepper, maybe small packets of hot sauce, like the MRE condiment packets? (self-assembled)

also, with the soaps & lotions, shampoo & someone else suggested combs...even deodorant samples if ya can get 'em (I get 'em thru the mail occasionally & save them)...the dollar stores sometimes have small travel toothbrushes in multi packs...also tissue packs...

also, chocolate & hard candies will be welcome by most ...

this is a great idea & has my mind turning for doing the same...

 

[Jim in MO]

with the coffee, what about small packets of sugar & the powdered creamer, salt, pepper, maybe small packets of hot sauce, like the MRE condiment packets? (self-assembled)

also, with the soaps & lotions, shampoo & someone else suggested combs...even deodorant samples if ya can get 'em (I get 'em thru the mail occasionally & save them)...the dollar stores sometimes have small travel toothbrushes in multi packs...also tissue packs...

also, chocolate & hard candies will be welcome by most ...

this is a great idea & has my mind turning for doing the same...

The condiment packet is great idea. The hotels I stay in have them as well. I guess I'll start grabbing those as well.

I know that at Wally World thaey have the travel size tooth brushes and othe things as well. I'll check the prices on these to see how cheap they are.

Great ideas so far. Keep them coming.

 

[Lindabel]

also...the packets of soy sauce & mustard that ya always seem to get dozens of from Chinese takeout, or Arby's BBQ & "Horsey"sauce...I've kept some of that stuff for 6 months & they were still good...beyond that they may need replacing...

the "wet wipes" that some restaurants give out, also...you can buy them but they may be pricey ( I haven't priced them since my son was in kindergarten...they were like $3 for 24 packets)

 

[Jim in MO]

also...the packets of soy sauce & mustard that ya always seem to get dozens of from Chinese takeout, or Arby's BBQ & "Horsey"sauce...I've kept some of that stuff for 6 months & they were still good...beyond that they may need replacing...

the "wet wipes" that some restaurants give out, also...you can buy them but they may be pricey ( I haven't priced them since my son was in kindergarten...they were like $3 for 24 packets)

I guess you could them separated and not vacuum seal them so they could be cycled in and out. The wet wipes are a great idea as well.

The thingI was working on was items that I’m getting for free so I have no cost on putting them together.

 

[DarkImbolc]

How would you store tobacco long term. I know it dries out fairly fast.

Factory packed packages are the way to go. The drums of Bugler roll-your-own stay fresh until you open the container. They are also cheap - about $11 for over a carton worth. Not to mention that it comes with it's own papers. They have envelopes of it too (with papers) for about a buck.

What about the little single serving bottles of booze?

Those would be good and portable, but I think you'd do better with full sized bottles of even bottom shelf stuff. A pony bottle may get you buzzed, but in the aftermath there will be more than one person trying to drown their sorrows (even for a shot while). High enough proof, it can also be used as an anasceptic.

 

[timbo]

Spices.

That includes pepper. Anything that isnt native would be great.

Red hot sauce. There will come a time when our foods could be quite bland and anything that livens up a squirrel stew type of thing would be treasured.

Tobacco. I use to freshen my pipe tobacco with a slice of apple in the container.

It adds a nice flavor to the tobacco and also remoistens it as well.

I bought some cigarette makins' tobacco awhile back and found that this will freshen the same way.

Those packet of ketchup and so forth should last a lot longer than 6 months IMO.

Oh almost forgot the kleenex packets,those purse size? Toilet paper.

There are some of that in warehouses that could have been there for years!

 

[Jim in MO]

Factory packed packages are the way to go. The drums of Bugler roll-your-own stay fresh until you open the container. They are also cheap - about $11 for over a carton worth. Not to mention that it comes with it's own papers. They have envelopes of it too (with papers) for about a buck.


Those would be good and portable, but I think you'd do better with full sized bottles of even bottom shelf stuff. A pony bottle may get you buzzed, but in the aftermath there will be more than one person trying to drown their sorrows (even for a shot while). High enough proof, it can also be used as an anasceptic.

I'll look into the Bugler tobacco. The complete packet thing with papers and all sounds like the way to go.

I know that I have seen some really cheap booze so I'll see what kind of a deal I work out with that. I really don't want ot store too much of that though maybe a case but that would be about all. I always keep several bottles of our favorites on hand just in case

 

[Freeholder]

I don't smoke, and I honestly think it's a pretty dumb thing to do (not to mention nasty for us non-smokers to have to be around the smell of cigarette smoke), but if you want to have tobacco for trade goods, why not grow it yourself? I was surprised, when we still lived in New Hampshire, to learn that tobacco will grow there, and probably even farther north, so that means that just about anyone with a bit of land could grow their own.

Kathleen

 

[Jim in MO]

Spices.

That includes pepper. Anything that isnt native would be great.

Red hot sauce. There will come a time when our foods could be quite bland and anything that livens up a squirrel stew type of thing would be treasured.

Tobacco. I use to freshen my pipe tobacco with a slice of apple in the container.

It adds a nice flavor to the tobacco and also remoistens it as well.

I bought some cigarette makins' tobacco awhile back and found that this will freshen the same way.

Those packet of ketchup and so forth should last a lot longer than 6 months IMO.

Oh almost forgot the kleenex packets,those purse size? Toilet paper.

There are some of that in warehouses that could have been there for years!

We already buy spices. We find those that are .50 each and buy 10 at a time and put them in storage. We also do the same with tuna, find the cheapest brand that is on sale and but a bunch and set them aside.

Thanks for the tip about the shelf life life on the condiment packets from the fast food joints. I'll start saving them as well. If nothing else a few assorted one in the BOB wouldn't hurt for a little added flavor.

 

[eXe]

I keep plain tobacco in cans sealed up, it has yet to go bad. Thats your best bet for stroage if you dont smoke it.. it will keep for a long time

As for booze I buy up those little bottles everywhere I see them. I have a 50 cal ammo can full of them.. They will be worth their weight in gold for people who want a drink post SHTF. I dont drink so for me its certainly a good barter item as I wont use them.

I can get them for $1.25 at the local liquor store so I figure I will stock a few more as well as bigger cheap bottles of booze. They store good and it gives you variety to barter with.

 

[Lone Wolf]

One of the things I keep from my weekly hotel stays are the little bars of soap, shampoo, lotion, and coffee packets. After all of this time on the road I must have hundreds of them. My thought is to make individual packets with a few of each and then seal them with our food saver and use them as trade items. My thought is to put two bars of soap, two packets of coffee and one each shampoo and lotion. What else do you think I should put in them? I was thinking maybe a small travel size toothpaste or something along that line.

Any suggestions?


Jim in MO

While it isn't a good thing to smoke, lots of people have stopped carrying matches and lighters as well...and that is not a good thing.

any one need a "light?"

lw

 

[Jim in MO]

While it isn't a good thing to smoke, lots of people have stopped carrying matches and lighters as well...and that is not a good thing.

any one need a "light?"

lw

Really good point Lone Wolf. We have a bunch of matches but I didn't buy any to set up in our trade packets. I'll start looking for book matches and cheap bic type lighters to put in them.

You guys really have the wheels turning for me now. Thanks!!! Keep the ideas coming.

 

[Lone Wolf]

Really good point Lone Wolf. We have a bunch of matches but I didn't buy any to set up in our trade packets. I'll start looking for book matches and cheap bic type lighters to put in them.

You guys really have the wheels turning for me now. Thanks!!! Keep the ideas coming.

Film tubes, or something like them to keep the matches dry.

Match manufactures don't make them like they used to...you NEED a good strick surface or your matches are for not.

lw

 

[Jim in MO]

I don't smoke, and I honestly think it's a pretty dumb thing to do (not to mention nasty for us non-smokers to have to be around the smell of cigarette smoke), but if you want to have tobacco for trade goods, why not grow it yourself? I was surprised, when we still lived in New Hampshire, to learn that tobacco will grow there, and probably even farther north, so that means that just about anyone with a bit of land could grow their own.

Kathleen

Years ago I thought about planting tobacco but then I didn't want to give up the garden space for it. and if I start a new area I would rather use that for more veggis. Besides you have to dry it and store it and I don't really have the set up for that. I don't want o get really involved in tobacco products but some for trade is a good idea for me.

 

[Jim in MO]

Film tubes, or something like them to keep the matches dry.

Match manufactures don't make them like they used to...you NEED a good strick surface or your matches are for not.

lw

Film Tubes, another little item that has many uses. The Missus takes lot of pictures and we have quite a few of them around. I have no idea how many but I'll start looking for them

 

[Freeholder]

f you store matches, it would be a good idea to replace them with fresh ones once in a while. Recently I tried to light a match from the match safe I carry in my purse for emergencies (I don't smoke, never have), and couldn't get a single match to light. They are several years old. I don't know what shelf life is on matches, but obviously they don't last forever.

Kathleen

 

[MaxTheKnife]

Vacuum pack the matches when they're new and they'll last as long as the seal on the plastic bag.

 

[idelphic]

Film Tubes, another little item that has many uses. The Missus takes lot of pictures and we have quite a few of them around. I have no idea how many but I'll start looking for them

Good point here... Most of the photo processing places - Sam's, Kroger's, etc.... when you drop off a roll of film, they discard the film can. Some times you can get a whole box of empty canisters for nothing. They would otherwise be trashed.

Recycle...

 

[theoutlands]

While it isn't a good thing to smoke, lots of people have stopped carrying matches and lighters as well...and that is not a good thing.

I've taken to carrying a "sportsman's lighter" pressurized butane piezoelectric doodad in my pocket almost all the time. One of my "prep buys" now is to pick up a can of butane every 6-8 weeks, if I can remember to.

 

[idelphic]

f you store matches, it would be a good idea to replace them with fresh ones once in a while. Recently I tried to light a match from the match safe I carry in my purse for emergencies (I don't smoke, never have), and couldn't get a single match to light. They are several years old. I don't know what shelf life is on matches, but obviously they don't last forever.

Kathleen

Had the same problem... See this thread...

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?t=186921

 

[idelphic]

I've taken to carrying a "sportsman's lighter" pressurized butane piezoelectric doodad in my pocket almost all the time. One of my "prep buys" now is to pick up a can of butane every 6-8 weeks, if I can remember to.

Pros and Cons to the Piezos,... Almost never will have to replace the flint.. But it is diffcult to next to impossible to strike a spark to get tinder going without fuel.

But worth trying... might try that this week.

 

[Hermit]

I've kept strike-anywhere wooden matches in a standard pill container like they put your pharmacy meds in. Even left outdoors at a camp, they've lasted at least a couple years. Some were simply left indoors in their original package, and never went bad even after several years. Good lighters last also.

I think coffee would be best for trade goods, most adults love the stuff and are mildly addicted, and yet you wouldn't have as much threat of trouble with bad guys as alcohol would bring. I suppose manufactured soap might be desired by some.

No sense in bundling different things in a kit, just trade what people want.