OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Bartering worked, but sometimes it was hard to find someone who wanted exactly what you had. Today, we mostly use money instead of bartering. Money makes trading much easier because everyone agrees on what it is worth. You can use coins, bills, or even a card to buy what you need at a store. But people still trade sometimes! You might trade a sandwich with a friend at lunch or swap toys with your neighbor.

• Some of the first things people used as money were seashells, beads, and even salt!
• The word “salary” comes from the Latin word “salarium,” which is related to the word for salt, because salt was very valuable long ago.
• Whether we use money or trade things directly, people have always found ways to share and get what they need from each other!