What to have on hand for bartering. It starts with what you can afford to buy extra of. I have alot of spices, seasonings and heirloom seeds.Other useful items include: medicines,first aid supplies, fire starters, clothing, cigs, alcohol. I find that the medicines/first aid supplies would be important to use for barter, because you would want to have a surplus, so as not to give away your own. Someone comes along asking for help( sick child or whoever)if you don't have extra, you'll have a moral dilemma, do I hand over what I may need to save my own child/spouse/parent or send them away, knowing they could possibly die without what you have or that they may come back in force and try to steal or kill to take it from you. That's why I try to get extra every time I buy something, particularly at a bargain price, so that eventually, I'll have a good stock of surplus for trading or helping someone out.  Mrs. Prepper