After a major, world-changing disaster, things that are valued will drastically change. In a post-apocalyptic world, the things that are valuable in our current society will mainly be worthless. Other things that we take for granted may become very valuable. Here is our list of five things that will be valuable in a post-apocalyptic world.
These aren’t all items to trade, but things that you may be able to provide to people who don’t have them. This list also doesn’t cover everything that you should prepare, but considers what would be valuable after the apocalypse.
Food And Water
In the early stages of an apocalypse, food and clean water will be in great demand, and will become extremely valuable. When a major disaster happens, supply chains will collapse very quickly, and utilities including mains water supplies will fail. This will very quickly leave people without food and water.
The majority of people are unprepared for such a disaster. They may have no means to obtain clean water and only enough food for a day or two. When people don’t have enough food or water, they will be desperate.
As a prepper, you will likely have a good food supply, and the equipment needed to purify water. You could decide to trade some of your food if you have plenty, or provide purified water for those who need it. You will also need to protect your own food and water supplies, as desperate people will do anything to try to get them.
If you decide to trade food and water, make sure you still have enough for yourself. If you are already well prepared, there is likely to be little in the way of supplies that you will want to trade food and water for. Instead, trade for things that you will need later, such as other people’s skills. For example, build an alliance with a doctor, nurse or dentist: give them food and water in return for use of their skills when needed in future.
Valuable Post-Apocalyptic Skills
Skills will become extremely valuable in a post-apocalyptic world. Those who have the skills to be self-sufficient will survive, while those who don’t, won’t. Other skills could be used to trade or build alliances.
A survivalist who is able to provide shelter, food and water after the apocalypse could help people with skills that will be needed in future. Find people with skills that will be useful to you and help them survive the apocalypse.
Skills that will become particularly useful and valuable in a post-apocalyptic world include:
- Survival – the skills needed to survive an apocalypse, find and purify water, find food, provide shelter and warmth.
- Agricultural/food production – the skills needed to be self-sufficient in producing your own food.
- Medical and dental – skills to be able to treat injuries and illnesses with basic equipment.
- Engineering – the skills to be able to build shelter and to make and fix tools and equipment.
As a prepper, your valuable post-apocalyptic skills are likely to focus around the first and second items on the list. Try to ensure that you learn as many different skills as possible, but also find people with different skills to yourself.
Knowledge
We live in an age where we can access knowledge very easily using the internet. However, this will be one of the first things to disappear in a post-apocalyptic world.
Knowledge, both in people’s heads, and in the form of books will be extremely valuable in a post-apocalyptic world. In particular, books that can help you survive the apocalypse, find food in the wild, become self-sufficient, and treat illnesses and injuries.
Stock up on a variety of books that have information to survive both short and long-term after the apocalypse. Check out our list of best books for preppers and add them to your collection.
Knowledge of your local area will also be very valuable. You need to know locations to find water, shelter, food and firewood as well as identify escape routes. Buy at least one good map (take a look at Rand McNally maps) and replace with an up to date one regularly.
Medical And Dental Equipment
In a post-apocalyptic world, minor illnesses and injuries could easily become life threatening. We aren’t all going to be able to become doctors, or provide medication and advanced medical care, but some equipment will be very valuable. Those people that survive the apocalypse will need basic medical and dental care, and will trade for it.
Build up a good supply of first aid and hygiene equipment and basic medications (pain killers, anti-inflammatories). Consider also building up a dental kit to deal with dental hygiene and care.
Add some books that cover medical and dental care with limited equipment, such as:
- Survival Doctors Complete Handbook
- Where There Is No Doctor
- Where There Is No Dentist
Where There Is No Doctor
Tools
After surviving the initial part of an apocalypse, the process of rebuilding life in the new, post-apocalyptic world begins. Survivors will transition from living on stored food to growing food and being self-sufficient. Hand tools for farming, for building and repairing will be very important.
Powered tools rely on fuel or a power supply, so will probably not be useful, but hand tools will be vital. Build up a stock of tools for gardening and farming, as well as tools for building, wood and metal working.
You may be able to find others with skills to go with the tools as well as you. Earlier, we discussed trading food, water or your skills. One thing that anyone can trade in return is work, to help you farm, rebuild, repair and more.
What’s Valuable To You In A Post-Apocalyptic World?
After the apocalypse, survivors will want to form groups and alliances for mutual support. As a prepper you will be well prepared to survive the apocalypse. However if also you have equipment or skills of value it will be easier to find others with different skills and equipment to benefit each other.
What do you think will be valuable in a post-apocalyptic world? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of the page.
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