• Before there was money, people traded or bartered to get the things they needed. For example, a farmer would trade a cow for some chickens.
• During the late 1800s and early 1900s, when New Zealand was being settled by people from Europe, every bank issued its own paper money. Coins used were mostly British.
• The first New Zealand coins and notes were introduced in the 1930s.

• The bank is a good place to put your money if you want it to grow.
• When you deposit money into your account, the bank lends it to other people. These people use it to buy something really big, like a car or a house, and they pay the money back over a number of years.
• People who borrow are charged money called interest. At the same time, the bank pays you interest to keep money in your bank account.

To open up a bank account, you'll need some money to put into it. You might get pocket money from your parents, or you might have money that was given to you for Christmas or your birthday. You might also be earning your own money, by doing a job.

• Delivering papers and pamphlets, babysitting, car washing, lawn mowing and dog walking are jobs you may be able to do for other people in return for money.
• Or you could make things to sell - like lemonade, biscuits, fudge or jewellery.
• You could also sell toys and books that you've grown out of - online auctions are one way to sell second hand goods. Talk to your parents about where you could safely sell your products.