Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
For Independent Minded People!
ISSN 2161-5543
In
This Issue:
1. Tips for better bartering
2. Tips on getting ready for hunting
season
3. Easy camp bread recipe, Apprenticeship
Programs
4. Wikileaks guide to securing free
speech
Mix a little foolishness with your prudence; it's good
to be silly at the right moment.
- Horace
- Horace
We hope all of
you enjoy this Labor Day Weekend…and for those
without jobs, we certainly extend our prayers that you find one soon!
Tips for Using
the World’s 2nd Oldest Profession-Bartering on Craigslist and Other
Sites
When you boil it down, economies are based on bartering, which is why it’s
been called the world’s 2nd oldest profession. The vast majority of
the time, though, we “barter” currency for
some particular good or service. Historically speaking, the majority of
transactions throughout history have been what we would consider “traditional”
bartering: trading one good or service for another. One of the added pluses of
bartering is that, if done well, both parties feel they have gained something,
not only in goods or services, but in a relational way. Both feel they have
added value to someone else.
Craigslist.com, due to its
local listing appeal, has become one site to try if you are interested in
bartering. Most people scan through listings on Craigslist for things to buy
(and great deals can be found if you are patient), but you can also find those
who are willing to trade some goods or services. That is especially true for
those who have very tight budgets. They are trying to get something they need,
but be able to give something back in return.
So, how do you effectively barter on Craigslist? Here are a few general
suggestions to consider.
1. Use the “Barter” section.
I doubt many people
even realize that this section exists, but there is an entire page of
Craigslist for each locality that is dedicated to bartering. By using this
section, you are appealing to those of like minds.
2. Be honest with what you have.
As with any listing on
the site, be completely honest with the product or service you are offering.
Don’t undersell, but also do not exaggerate. People will expect what you list,
so list honestly. If you want to build a reputation as one who can be trusted,
it needs to be built from the very first transaction.
3. List what you would like in return.
Many bartering
listings on Craigslist just put a question mark as to what they want in return.
While this works sometimes, you need to be honest if there is something
specific you truly need in return. For example, if you want a working lawn
mower in return for your item or service, then be willing to say that. I have
had people throw a curveball when we started talking about what they wanted.
That ended the conversation because it was unexpected.
4. Offer something useful to a lot of people.
Unless you are well
known in your area for some niche service or product, you are going to have a
hard time finding something in return for it. Most people need certain things (textbooks, lawn equipment, painting services, etc.) that can cost quite a bit of
money. If you can offer something that is useful to a lot of people, you are
more likely to find a match.
5. Be cordial.
Bartering turns many
people off because we don’t like confrontation, and they see these discussions
as confrontational. If you will be honest from the start, the discussions
should be simple. Even if the barter is a bit more complex, continue to be
friendly. Bartering is not a way to take advantage of someone. See it as a way
to help someone out, and you will be glad you did.
6. Give what is expected.
Some can be tempted to
“bait and switch” on a product, or to do a shoddy job with the service, since
they aren’t receiving real cash in return. Christians, though, are to do their
best at all things. And, remember, you have received something in return!
7. Be patient.
The other piece of
advice I would give is true of any transaction, whether it is a traditional
shopping purchase or bartering: be patient. When you barter, it can sometimes
be out of a time of need, and you can fail to get something of good value in
return. Just wait for the
right match and then
do your best to deliver what you have promised when you find it.
Start practicing your
bartering skills today by getting involved in one of the many, online bartering
communities. Some of these sites provide a bulletin board where you can post
what you have to trade and what you're looking for in return. Others work like
a brokering service. They help you find what you need and help others find you
who may be interested in what you have.
For Survival
Purposes, Consider stocking up on the following:
Coffee and tea – people love their morning beverages and will place
a high trade value on such comfort items.
Hygiene
supplies – everything from
toothbrushes to bar soap to lip balm can be useful for barter.
Disposable
lighters – These are cheap to
buy, but can be very useful for trading purposes in a survival situation.
First aid
supplies – aspirin, Neosporin,
bandages... they're all good. Just be sure you keep enough on hand for you and
your family.
Make-your-own-cigarette kits at local smoke shops can be quite useful for trade
and barter.
Hard candy
It pays to do a little
research to find the site that fits you best, but here are two more:
Barterquest: This site is a
step above Craigslist when it comes to bartering. It's dedicated to bartering
only. In most cases, it costs you nothing to post a trade, accept an offer, and
actually make the exchange. You'll be able to connect to a broader
cross-section of traders on a site like this one, and that means more
possibilities regarding what trades you can set up.
The Barter Company: This is a
barter exchange site. It requires a membership fee to participate in the
bartering process. It has perks, though. The staff works to help match you with
likely bartering partners, and they have a deep and broad network of other
bartering sites, so you can end up with a lot of demand for your stuff and a
lot of access to other stuff. The fees are hefty, but if you're looking to
barter as part of your business, this is a good one to check out.
Another
advantage of barter is that cashless transactions are generally private
transactions. While I don't ever
advise breaking the law, barter is often used as a way to avoid paying lawful
taxes. I mention this so you don't inadvertently get caught up in a tax trap.
Sources: Christian PF, Independentlivingnews.com,
PoorManSurvival.com
Related Resource:
Alternative Currency
Financial
Survival Network - Exploring BitCoin
Filmed at
FreedomFest
Clean
leather furniture and other goods with stale beer, just rub it in or use a
solution made from ¼ cup white vinegar combined with a ½ cup of water, then
wash with saddle soap.
PM’s
Compendium of Useful Resources
Tips to get Ready for Hunting Season
Don’t forget, many states offer free or lower cost permits for seniors
and war vets…
While so many of us are grabbing
whatever little bit of summer that is left by hanging out at the beach or the
local swimming pool, there are those that are quietly preparing for the
upcoming hunting season. These folks are trying to gain every little edge they
can, which means more than just checking your equipment and wondering where in
the basement you put your hunting boots or walking through your local Bass Pro
Shops or Cabela’s to see what sales are going on to buy the newest equipment for this
season.
Should you hunt up or down? Each
offer its advantages and disadvantages.
Here are some great tips to help you gain an edge over your quarry.
Wiki Leaks Guide To Securing Free Speech
In this era of US
government approved assassination and global financial tracking, someone like
Mr. Assange takes a great risk in proactively promoting freedom of speech. But
he has also taken some very important steps to protect his personal and
financial privacy so that he is less at risk of uncomfortable consequences from
pissing off the powerful. Learn more at:
Apprenticeships can pay for school, provide a
post-college job and offer a salary, too. Apprenticeship programs take one to
six years, are available in more than 1,000 occupations and require
participants to complete at least 2,000 hours of field work annually, according
to the Department of Labor.
In exchange, the sponsoring employer pays for college or technical
training and provides a salary. A list of available programs is available at
the Workforce
One website.
Easy Camp Bread Recipe
Tastes like sourdough bread but darn easy to make and with few
ingredients:
6 cups of flour
1 tablespoon of active dry yeast
1 tablespoon of salt
3 cups of water - at room temp
Mix the yeast, salt into the flour.
Pour water into the mix and stir.
Will make sloppy stringy wet dough.
Cover with a cloth and let it sit on the counter for 8-24 hours (best
results if you wait the full 24-hours).
Roll out into a greased cooking bowl or crock. (Works best in glass or ceramic) You may want
to dust it slightly with flour to ease the rolling process. Once in the baking dish, let it sit for an
hour; then bake in a pre-heated 375 oven for about 45-minutes until golden
brown.
Remove bugs from
your dry grains and beans by placing a dried chili pepper in the container;
weevils & meal worms are repelled by the scent of fresh mint leaves.
The Nanny State Updates…
Civil
Liberties
From "if you see
something, say something," to DHS electronic strip searches, to federal
agencies purchasing enough ammunition to kill every US citizen three times,
Obama has operated government more like the Stasi than a free democratic
republic. It appears the old liberals inside the Democratic Party in favor of
peace, privacy and free speech have been fully silenced.
You've heard about
RFID chips and the fight to keep them out of our pets, livestock, and our
bodies. Well, they may have already infiltrated your wallet - and the security
risk is real. Check out this excellent investigative news report posted on
YouTube (6:08 long) and many thanks to Nora W. who sent this in. Nora found her
latest cards did have the chips in them.
http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/lLAFhTjsQHw%26sns=em
http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/lLAFhTjsQHw%26sns=em
The Parting Thought- Labor Day
The main industry of America today is shuffling papers around in endless
circles!
Happy Labor Day to those of you who are still laboring!
In 1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed the holiday while
serving as secretary of the CLU (Central
Labor Union) of New York. Others argue that it was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882,
after witnessing the annual labor
festival held in Toronto, Canada.
Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday in 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day. Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland reconciled with Reyes, leader of the labor movement. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.
If you and/or your family are experiencing tough times, you should take
advantage of whatever resources you can from the government…after all, you’ve
probably been paying into the system for years.
Go here:
“Until the next revolution”, the Poor Man
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