The 10 Most Sought-After Bartering Items in Venezuela

OTC or prescribed sleeping pills and valium lose their potency overtime making patients to take more pills to achieve same effect and thereby leading to overdose or addiction. These sleeping pills and valium must be used within one year of opening. Prescription drugs like Adderall and Mydayis should be taken according to physician’s instructions and also within one year of opening. The loss of potency over time can interfere with its function in cases of ADHD. In as much as most medications remain potent and effective past their expiration date, it’s important to store medications in the right environments to maintain their potency. Do not store medications in the bathroom as the heat and humidity from the hot water shower can destroy drug’s potency. Always store drugs in cool and dry places away from children’s reach. Remember to close medicine containers properly after use. Frequently check your medications for signs of deterioration such as discoloration, powdery texture, bad smell and in cases of liquid medications, look out for cloudy or filmy solutions and suspensions. Remember, if you have any doubts regarding the consumption of expired medications, consult a physician or a pharmacist.

They say you never know what you have until you lose it. If anything, the past few years have taught us a lot from the pandemic to the economic crisis, especially how Venezuela got to its present state. The take away from these last few years is to be prepared.

Before the year 2013, Venezuela was a country people wanted to visit, a country that flourished with a good economy. Money had value and goods and products were abundant. People could buy what they needed when they wanted. Things seemed great until gradually goods became scarce and prices hiked. Household items, foodstuff, and medications were no longer available in supermarkets and pharmacies, and when they were, the prices were outrageous.

As the crisis grew worse, money lost its value, it became a useless commodity, people no longer wanted money, they needed food, they needed to survive; money was no longer enough to survive. This event brought about trade by bartering as people began to barter what they had for what they needed.

We do not pray for an economic crisis like that of Venezuela but we must admit that the pandemic gave a free pass to economic instability worldwide and that is more reason why we should be prepared. And to be prepared, there are certain supplies that we must have handy in our homes taking into consideration the items that were most sought after in Venezuela.

Number One

Food should be readily available in our homes. During the pandemic people couldn’t go out and most restaurants and markets were closed. In Venezuela people couldn’t find rice to buy anywhere and when

they found it, the price was tripled. Having rice, a very good source of carbohydrates, is definitely a must.

Number Two

Another very important supply that should be stockpiled are detergents used for washing clothes and for general cleaning around the house.

Number Three

One of the house hold supplies people ran out of quickly during the pandemic was toilet paper and the same happened in Venezuela when the crisis started. Toilet paper is very useful not just after using the toilet, but in cases of a flu and cleaning off dirt. So make sure to have enough toilet paper at home.

Number Four

Milk comes in liquid and powdered forms, representing a rich source of protein, calcium and vitamin D. Milk has so many benefits both for kids and adults, such as development and maintenance of strong bones and teeth, promoting muscle growth etc. There are different types of healthy milk like almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk and even lactose free milk, just in case you are lactose intolerant.

Number Five

Cooking oil is a very essential food supply for preparing different foods ranging from breakfast, lunch, to dinner. There are different types of oils and each one is packed with great health benefits, since they belong to the monounsaturated fat group.

As monounsaturated fats they help increase the levels of good cholesterol in the blood, help with cholesterol metabolism, and help prevent heart diseases. Whichever works for you should be available in your home.

Number Six

Flour is rich in vitamins, calcium, and proteins. Flour types range from wheat flour, to white flour, corn flour, coconut flour, almond flour, etc.; all of which are used in many homemade recipes and therefore should be stockpiled.

Number Seven

Deodorants are one of many products that can easily become scarce in the event of a crisis just like in Venezuela. They are a must have at home as they leave you feeling fresh while concealing bad odor and destroying bacteria that generate odor.

Number Eight

Now we all know the importance of having a good shower. Bathing soaps tend to be scarce during crisis, which was evident in Venezuela as people could not find bathing soaps to buy. Make sure you have enough bathing soaps in your home.