Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
When thinking about what to stockpile in case of a major collapse, it’s easy to get caught up in the big stuff and forget about all the little things. I’m talking about small items we use almost every single day and never think twice about until they’re gone.
Things like soap, trash bags, toilet paper, and so forth. These things are inexpensive right now, but after the shit hits the fan they will be very valuable.
That’s why when you’re preparing for a disaster, you need to make sure you don’t forget all the little things. When the power is out and you don’t know when (or if) it will come back on, a simple toothbrush will be worth far more than smartphones, video games, and fancy flat-screen televisions.
The world will be turned on its head and what was once expensive will be cheap and what was once cheap will be expensive. And that is all the more reason you should stock up on the cheap stuff while you still can. If a total collapse never happens, you’ll be able to use this stuff anyway, so no harm done.
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Now without further ado, here is my list of dirt-cheap items that will be worth their weight in gold after the SHTF.
1. Toilet Paper
TP is essential. You don’t even have to buy the good stuff. Anything will do after a major collapse; even the cheap stuff will be valuable.
2. Duct Tape
This stuff is so useful. Even the stuff at the dollar store will do for minor jobs around the house. Duct tape is a miracle worker in a survival situation.
3. Baking Soda
This is a multipurpose item you will want to have plenty of. It can be used to deodorize (think about the lack of sanitation), clean, brush your teeth, and of course, bake with.
4. Feminine Hygiene Products
These will be in huge demand. Stock up on them now when they don’t cost a fortune.
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5. Toothbrushes
These can be purchased at any dollar store. Dental hygiene is going to be a big deal when you can’t run to the dentist to fix a cavity.
6. Kleenex
This will help keep your nose from getting raw while you battle colds that are bound to happen after a disaster. Kleenex can also help keep things a bit more sanitary. You don’t want to be wiping boogers and snot on your sleeves, especially if there’s no running water.
7. Socks
Socks are going to be critical for keeping your feet warm and dry, and they can prevent blisters. Buy extra packs of socks so your family’s feet will always be dry and comfortable.
8. Shoestrings
These are easily overlooked today, but when you are trying to walk a mile without your shoe tied because the lace broke, you are going to be in bad shape. Buy loads of cheap shoestrings in various sizes. You can always fix a shoe, but the laces are pretty much done when they break.
9. Plasticware and Paper Plates
These items will help keep your area tidy, and they’ll save on water because you won’t need to wash dishes. You can burn the plates for heat after they are used.
10. Writing Utensils
Paper, pens, crayons, and whatnot. We take these things for granted today and don’t think twice about finding a pencil around the house. But after a collapse, you will be responsible for educating any children you might have, and writing is going to be a big deal. You may also want to keep a journal. Historic times!
11. Candy
The hard candies, in particular, will be a welcome treat. They can be used as incentives for grumpy kids and help keep your mouth wet on a hot day. Stock up on hard candy after Halloween.
12. ChapStick
This is going to be a big deal when you’re spending a lot of time outdoors. Some people will be willing to barter food and other valuables for your $1 tube of chapstick after a collapse.
13. Sandwich Bags
These are also important. You will use these quite a bit to keep organized, pack lunches, keep matches dry, store leftover food, and so forth. In most cases, you can even wash and reuse them.
14. Soap
Soap in any form is going to be extremely valuable after a collapse. Buy the cheap stuff, bars or liquid, it doesn’t matter. People need to be able to clean themselves, their clothes, and their surroundings.
15. Hand sanitizer
This is also going to be very needed and valuable. You can buy a bottle for a buck. Have plenty to use around the house and barter with.
16. Trash Bags
These should be purchased by the case if you can swing it. They’re only a couple bucks a box. After a disaster, you’ll be going through them like crazy. Not only will they help keep smells down, you can use them to make toilets as well.
17. Lotion
Lotion will be a luxury as well as a necessity. Manual labor will lead to dry, chapped hands. Moisturizing them can prevent the dry, cracked skin that can be painful and eventually lead to sores that could put you at risk of infection.
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18. Vitamins
These are going to be critical for maintaining your health when your diet is lacking raw fruits and veggies. You can load up on these in bulk or buy them at the dollar store. Have a variety of important ones like vitamins A, C, D, and E on hand.
19. Razors
For the ladies and the guys. You can buy cheap, universal, disposable razors. Just because the world has gone to hell doesn’t mean you should give up every last nicety in life, like being clean-shaven. Razors will also come in handy if you need to shave around a wound.
20. Zip Ties
These are almost as important as duct tape. They can be used to hold a shelter together, hang items from trees, fix fences, and so on. Buy them in bulk; they only cost a few cents each.
21. Lysol
Cans of Lysol will be very helpful in keeping your home relatively germ free. When you are battling the many germs and viruses that are running rampant, Lysol can help you fight back. It will also be very handy around the latrine or wherever you have set up your toilet. Bleach expires within 6 months, but Lysol will be fully effective for at least 2 years.
22. Matches and Lighters
These are going to be sought after by everyone. Buy lots and lots of them because believe me, unless you’re an experienced outdoorsman, you don’t want to be stuck trying to build a fire by rubbing two sticks together.
23. Painkillers
Tylenol, Advil, and other painkillers will also be a big deal. They do weaken and lose potency over time, so make sure you are constantly updating your stockpile.
24. Ammunition
It may not seem cheap in the grand scheme of things, but it is cheaper than it will be down the road. Buy as much as you can now. You can never have too much ammunition.
25. Sunscreen
This will be very helpful on those days you will be spending outside. It does expire and weaken after a couple of years so always add new stock to your stash. Buy it on clearance at the end of the year to save even more money.
These items are just the little extras that are easily overlooked. Don’t forget about the more widely known things like first aid supplies, spices, and batteries. Remember, these things may be dirt cheap right now, but someday they could be as rare as gold.
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If you buy gold; do not buy only 1 oz gold pieces. When you go on vacation ; do you only carry $100? How will you make change? Buy one or five gram bars. A one ounce gold piece costs over $1,000. How many can you buy right now/
Ammunition? What if don’t have guns??
Then you are just an easy target
Cool article, but I do believe that there are some redundancies, like mentioned above things like Vaseline can be multi-purpose, for skin / wounds / fire starting / chaffing / lubricating
Rubbing alcohol, again fire starting, sanitizing, cleaning,
Dish soap is probably the best for deep cleaning, and it’s very cheap, and also easy too dilute to be better for washing bodies / sensitive areas
Lotions, you’re going to want something with a high paraffin content, something that seals the skin rather than just moisturizes. There’s some good ones out there that can do both and last a long time.
Snacks snacks and more snacks, raisins, hard candies, anything that lasts a long time while sucking on them
One big thing that was forgot
Salt salt salt! Pepper pepper pepper! Chili powder chili powder chili powder!
Spices in general are going to save your sanity.
HDPE sporks / multi-use utensils / two-sided and collapsible or HDPE bowls
Consider the next time you replace your stove to go with propane, and order an extra tank that you can carry on your own! Usually 100 lb is max. Building area on your manifold for distribution to refill smaller tanks is a bonus
Vaseline can also be used for chapped lips and also applied to your feet to reduce blistering
Toenail clippers, razors, dishpans/buckets.Keep on hand some jewelry-gold rings and necklaces-that could be bartered or pawned..
The first thing you should do is not let anyone know that you’re a prepper. Mormpns have been prepping for over 100 years. They prepare for LOGICAL emergencies like a blizzard. Or a six month job lay off. If you carefully dispose of your trash; no one will learn that you’re a prepper.
If you decide to purchase firearms; also invest in lessons that teach you to use them SAFELY.
All that stuff is nice to have, but how are you going to protect it? Base ball bats, tire irons, sticks, stones? My first choice would be guns and ammo! When the neighborhood discovers you havesomething they want….they will find a way to get it. Period.. end of story!
No stores will be open when the grids go down. If the stores would be open, there would be few things needed to stock up on. You could just replace whatever was used up or broken, just as we do today.
Steve l don’t understand what you are saying. So in your scenario are the stores open or closed?
Obviously, he thinks they’re open and fully stocked. There is no grid down, no supply issues or delivery problems. Welcome to utopia! I’ll stay in my rabbit hole.
A lot of comments here…some positive and some pretty negative…in regards to stocking up and nothing lasting forever…none of us can stock up enough to last forever…BUT..we should have enough to get us through a winter..then have things stocked up like mason jars and items needed to can vegetables to get us through another winter…Alum..foil..salt..sugar..dried beans and lentils…then in regards to someone taking these items away from us…I don’t see anyone standing aside and letting it happen so guns and ammo and good neighbors ….if everyone had at least three (3) months of supplies it would make this country stronger…batteries..matches…clothes…a roof over our head and a supply of water…canned Seltzer should be good forever if stored correctly..
It’s funny that everyone plans to stash what they think will be of value and it makes me wonder how many of them have a place large enough to do that? What to buy to survive if you have the money go for it if not then you should begin your learning very soon people think I deal in junk for a living taking what others think is useless and making some thing I can use myself is priceless .
The old ways have gone from the people but not everyone has forgotten them, everyone here seems to have forgotten them . I wish you luck in your survival but I doubt if many on here will last
very long. make and learn what you need not what you want there is a very big difference .good luck to you all.
I agree.
What gets me is: if these people don’t have these basic items, then what do you expect them to have that is worth anything to trade with, in order to get this stuff?
If they don’t have the basics, then they don’t have anything else worth trading for!
But if they don’t have Items to Trade or items that they can part with (like guns and ammo) and they know you have all this stuff: then you just made yourself a big target.
You have also just supplied them with something that they can use in trade; Knowledge.
Knowledge that you have all this stuff. Knowledge that could be of value, to a gang of looters.
Who would surely trade some of their loot or what they loot they get from you, after their successful raid based upon this info.
It is much better to have stuff for yourself and forget about items to barter.
But if you feel you must barter, barter knowledge and skills. You must be alive and well to pass on knowledge and to use your skills.
But if you are dead or killed, then all your “stuff “, now belongs to them.
So which is more likely to keep you alive and well? Think about it!
LOL, what a lot of things people think they need, and most of it will run out eventually.
LEARN THESE SKILLS NOW
gardening- fruit and Vege
raising animals- for products and meat.
how to build a turbine- wind and water.
invest in solar power,
carpentry, metalwork and sewing.
store seeds for food, learn to cook over a fire, learn animal husbandry, learn first aid.
learn to make your own ammo, clothes, candles, paper, fire starters.
Then you can make what you need, and not rely on getting it from others.
all these can be bartered, just remember if you can’t make it, you will have to learn to go without
LEARN TO LIVE WITHOUT MODERN DAY LUXURIES
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER EXCEPT HONEY.
very smart . Thank you
So I am always drawn to these lists. But then a small voice in my head starts shouting “how the HELL are you going to barter in a post-modern world???” It will be some time until the crazies go away, don’t you think? I mean, if I venture to the nearest town or pop-up trading post with a bunch of very in-demand items, my life will probably be the least valuable commodity to all the “shoppers”.
Am I the only one who can’t quite get past the idea that “bartering” is a pre-SHTF mind-set? It may be years until enough order is reestablished and true bartering is possible (except maybe between trusted nearby neighbors…only even then, I would be more cautious than eager to let them know I had extra of anything valuable!)
Even trusted neighbors can and likely will become desperate like everyone else. No matter how much one prepares, eventually supplies run low due to pressure from the masses on various needs. Animals will be hunted for food and possibly their skin/fur. Waters will be depleted of fish and ducks/geese that are killed for food. After 6 months of not being able to go “shopping” for what your family needs are, people will become desperate, There’s enough pressure on the lands and waters as it is, with fish and game being harvested only by those with proper licenses. Imagine what will happen in an area when thousands more people begin to harvest resources in that area. The problem will become great when the desperate people decide it’s easier to just “take” what they need rather than barter or “work” ( plan ahead, hunt, fish, barter ), for their needs. So be prepared! Friends and helpers will be few and far between! And that won’t take long to happen!
And of course the Macgyver knife.
It’s well known that bleach only lasts about 6 months or so, but now they make bleach crystals that you combine with water to make bleach. Keep them on hand just in case.
For washing pans and plates even utensils you dont need detergent/ soap all you need is water and the powder ash from your cooking fire and a pair of waterproof gloves as once the ash grease and water start to produce lye you dont want it on your skin for long the ash the water and the grease from your food will start to form soap the process causes heat ( a lot ) and the production of lye will clean skin but it must be washed off immediately or it will burn it’s how people used to clean up after food many years back and it works well and fast just make sure you can get it off your skin before you start.
Your skin oils will react with the lye but wood ash before processing will not cause burns like commercially made lye.
I plan on using white vinegar in a spray bottle. Just spritz and wipe. The vinegar will cut through the grease.
Just wondering, if desperate others know you have a stock of necessity items, won’t they come back to steal all of it from you? More important, they will probably have guns and take everything including killing you and live as long as they can on your well-planned stock ! I can only imagine a crowd of unprepared humans ganging up on front door step ! Also, why would you barter if you have planned years ahead?
How would anyone know that you have prepared for a SHTF situation unless you or your family talked about it? There was a saying during WWII…”Loose lips sink ships!” You’d do the same thing if you were desperate and heard of a person that had prepared for the worst.
This “minor” stuff should be treated like food: keep them as secretely as any other materials of your cache. If posible, you shouldn’t even tell anyone you are a prepper.
I don’t know. Some of these items – like soap – have quite a bit of weight. “Worth their weight in gold”?
I doubt it.
like most sites I failed to see the long term items. No tools of any kind. No hunting items. No trapping items. Think of living off grid for years. What did your forefathers use. Then think of what you can now build.
Although this is somewhat true of certain items, like traps or snares, more common items like shovels, hammers, saws and such will be in abundance.
The thing you have failed to consider is the death toll of a SHTF scenario: 50 to 80 % of the population.
So there will be a lot of tools laying around, who’s now dead owners, will not care if you take them and use them.
I know it may be an ugly thought to some people, but we must face reality. There are going to be a lot of common items that will be laying around, that will no longer be needed by the former occupants of the home or farm.
These will be collected and used by someone and it might as well be you.
I just saw that you would want to stock up on Lysol for germ disinfecting. I disagree with you. This would be better used as a fire starter or protection from others. Not a germ fighter. This product is so flammable that after you have sprayed your home with it even months later. It will cause your home to burn faster and hotter. Please try the Shaklee Germicide available in undiluted quart bottles or in diluted wipes packaging. They will last longer. Not flammable and easier on the environment. Plus, the germ fighting ability lasts after dried for 72 hours. Much better then the minute of germ fighting of Lysol or bleach.
Tip: The top of window glass on a vehicle is the best/easiest way to sharpen an edge!
not flammable and easier on the environment? What environment are you expecting to have after shtf? lol
A vehicle window glass will “hone” a fairly sharp blade, but won’t begin to sharpen a damaged blade edge. That’s what “sharpening” stones of different surface grades ( coarseness ) are for.
The top of a vehicle window glass will “hone” a knife blade, but will not sharpen it. If the blade is severely dulled or damaged, it takes a sharpening stone of the proper coarseness to get the edge back to where it can be honed for a final finished ( razor sharp ) edge. A car window edge or the bottom of a ceramic mug just can’t do what a sharpening stone will do.
After a real SHTF event (if it ever happens), there will likely be a population shrinkage. Some folks just won’t make it. But their durable goods (tools, clothing, firearms, etc.) will still be there, looted and traded among a smaller population. The things that will really be precious are things that are consumable or perishable. Medicines, food, even paper, will no longer be manufactured or distributed.
Dont forget meds, Diabetics ,blood pressure meds ,broad spectrum antibiotics ETC, Would be wise!
when the as you say SHTF all you realy need is ammo!
You’ll need more than ammo, bc if you think you can just take by force you wont last very long
You cannot make it on your own either. A community is needed, Dr., Nurse, Mechanic, Farmer, Carpenter, Military wisdom, Electrician – solar and or wind generator expertise, the list would go on. Men and Women working together for the common good.
That’s communism….please do these things. All we want is a society based on communities, not capitalism.
You cant trade ammo unless you want to arm your neighbors, I dont.
Don’t worry; I’m sure you’ll get to live a long sad life alone.
Ammo? For what? To take what you want? Do you really think you can become a armed thief just like that? Shooting another person is nothing compared to shooting game or targets! And sooner or later, you run into a situation where you’re outnumbered and all the ammo you have will be useless against an angry crowd.
Sugar, honey, real coco powder, hard liquor, quality pemmican, white, jasmine, wild, Arborio and Basmati rice, vinegar, vanilla extract as well as other extracts and basically anything typically found in an alcohol suspension (including hundreds of herbal remedies and medications like cough medicine), soy sauce, bullion, powdered milk in nitrogen packed cans, corn syrup – basically all of these last forever properly stored. Buy large amounts extra, wait a while after shtf and the value of all will go up very high.
Also remember quality tools and similar items. Wooden axe and splitting maul handles break. Weld steel pipe to a bunch of heads now and you’ll have axes and splitting mauls forever. Welders need either wire or welding rod and neither will likely continue to be manufactured large scale so having a whole lot of it now is sure to be useful – similar to ammo in that regard, both for trade and personal use. Same thing with screws and nails. Remember also to have everything you need to build at least one non-flush toilet system of whatever type you favor. As far as ammo goes obviously you can never have too much of all popular calibers, however, don’t forget to stock numerous reloading kits for yourself and for trade. Also after shtf water purifiers like the Life Straw and similar will be in high demand.
Some basic skills will be worth their weight also. You don’t need a garden to learn how to can and to build a supply of home canned foods. Knowing how to patch a tire is a simple and high value skill, as is any automotive or building skill. Furthermore, for all you with shtf vehicles consider buying a couple/few junkers of the same year, make and model; you’ll eventually want parts. Gas filters, oil filters, air filters, motor oil, transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid – all items pretty much everyone will need.
Generally speaking when it comes to shtf think about everything you’d need if you wanted to live the rest of your life without utilities or services of any kind, without grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. If your plan is to trade, buy way too much of everything, but be sure you learn how to store things properly first. Also recognize that diesel fuel can be stored essentially forever when done properly (gasoline cannot) and diesel engines last many times as long as gasoline engines.
Ummmm coffe. Pretty sure that when shtf and people run out of coffee they would pay dearly for a cup of the stuff. Can’t go a block without a Starbucks in sight.
Yes I know it’s a luxury, but the article was titled 25 things that will be worth their weight in gold after SHTF.
Good point, I wouldn’t be surprised if coffee became a popular barter item.
Each time this website publishes a needed Barter item, I finally see bits and pieces of what people will not go without.
What I’m talking about are; COFFEE, CIGARETTES, AND WINE AND WHISKEY.
Americans that are used to having these products, will do and give almost anything to satisfy their “Addiction” to caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
Sad to say, even recreational drugs will be in demand. Cocaine, Marijuana among others. It is doubtful that Law Enforcement will be bothered, since chaos will probably reign.
Just remember, people who are addicted to coffee, cigarettes, whiskey, etc., will come to take these items after they have nothing left to barter with. They will take these items and whatever else they can carry.
sadly these are the zombie force that will rise when the SHTF hits.
Another item I would nominate for your list is Bag Balm. Simple hand lotion is okay for normal circumstances, but if you are working extensively in cold weather conditions outdoors, or have your hands/ears/face exposed sunlight for several days, there is nothing better for healing. It is an important first aid product.
The actually experiance of living off grid before tshtf. Priceless…
My wife and I cut the power at the main for at least 2 days and 2 nights at lease twice a year. You’d be surprised how fast your learn what you need. We’ve been doing it for over 10 years and we think we have nearly all the bugs worked out although a real national emergency will no doubt present the unknown.
Toilet paper, duct tape, Baking Soda, Tooth brushes, extra socks, paper, pens, soap, sandwich bags, vitamins, zip ties, matches and ammunition are the only items mentioned that are needed! So much are not mentioned like an extra set of cloths, dehydrated foods, bottles of rubbing alcohol, A anti-fungal anti-bacterial like Blue Coat, bandages, A firearm for each, backpacks, vegetable seeds, flash lights and a battery operated radio plus extra batteries. These 23 would be a great start don’t you think because we may not be able to stay in out house and do you think the grocery store will stay open when it runs out of food???
Blue Jeans!!! I buy them at my local Salvation Army. They have them on sale often, but especially Black Friday, where they are all half off. Many of them are even new with the tags, and I buy them for $3 to $5 a pair. I buy women’s, men’s and children’s in all sizes. They will be very barterable.
I rather doubt that people will be running out of blue jeans right away. Most people I know have enough clothes round their home to last for a few months. Myself I have purchased clothing that is a size smaller than I normally wear, because we’ll likely be losing weight daily when we’re living on true necessities. I figure a SHTF event may last 6 months or so at the most. Any longer than this and we won’t recognize our country. It may be a good idea to purchase a few body bags to keep the environment from becoming a biological hazard.
One more thought on this subject, if you’ve got a hobby/skill that most other people don’t have, you won’t need so many barter items and you’ll never run out. EX. operating a still for potable water/alcohol, forging weapons and tools, shoe repair/leather work. gunsmithing, animal husbandry/veteraniarian, doctor/nurse/EMT of course, etc.
SALT: Critical for life and important for fish/meat preservation. Keep 25 lbs. per family member and another 200 lbs for trade.
Potable water and alcohol: Got a still and the knowledge to use it? You’ll be rich.
Seed: Corn, Pole Beans and Squash, the three sisters, can be grown together in a guild and provide complete nutrition. Add tomatoes, onion, peppers, herbs, greens, etc. for variety and vitamins/minerals.
Nail polish, mascara, eye liner, etc. will be in high demand.
Playing Cards
First Aid supplies – tweezers, irrigation syringes/needles, suture kits, alcohol (see above), etc.
Sewing Kits
Fishing supplies – especially hooks
The greater the variety of stuff you have, the greater the chance you’ll have something somebody needs who has what you need.
why Nail polish, mascara, eye liner, etc. will be in high demand? Just curious…
Worth there weight in GOLD. LOL I am not trading anything for gold. So gold wont be worth anything.
EXACTLY!!!
Gold will still be a valuable commodity even after shtf, even if not quite like it is today. You’d have to be an idiot to think that you’ll be just fine as long as you have plenty of precious metals to trade, but a small amount would still prove worthwhile to have on hand.
Don’t forget. The value of gold will always be determined by the US Government. If they change the gold standard, a piece of one ounce gold may just buy you a coffee! They still have the keys to Fort Knox!
It will be worth much for the first few months or so until people begin to realize there is no return to a state where gold will have any value except for making into bullets. There are always the greedy, the ones living in denial and the stupid. Keep your gold for trading with these buffoons for the first few months. After that, you had better have something actually useful to use to survive and use for barter.
Fingernail clippers.