For centuries, people have paid with coins and banknotes, but today many other ways are also used. Remember the different forms that money can take. (see article “What is money for”)

Usually, smaller purchases are paid in cash. In the store, you give banknotes and coins to the seller, and if there are more than you need, the seller gives you change back – this is the difference between the money you gave and the price of your purchase. Always check that you are getting the exact amount back. The seller may have made a mistake without intending to.

Today, most people do not carry large amounts of money on them, but use payment cards. When you buy something with a card, it connects to the bank via the Internet, and the amount that needs to be paid is transferred to the seller’s bank account. This way, there is no need to withdraw cash from the bank or ATM, and you can pay quickly and conveniently with the card, without using banknotes and coins.

You may also already have a card and use it to pay. It is important to know that not all shops and restaurants accept cards. Therefore, check if there are stickers on the door showing that they accept cards, or ask the seller. The card is a convenient way to pay, but you should use it carefully, keep it safe and do not share your PIN and password with strangers.

When you pay with a card, you need to bring it closer to or place it in the POS terminal - this is the name of the special device in the store that accepts money from the card. Some people do not even carry a card, but pay with their smartphone or smartwatch. This is called mobile payment. How does it work? The card is saved in a special application on the phone and it is enough just to bring it closer to the terminal. It is important that the phone is always charged - if its battery runs out, it will not be possible to pay. Do your parents and relatives use their smartphone or smartwatch to pay?

You have probably bought something online with your parents - a game, a book, or ordered food and paid with a card without using cash. This is called online payment. How does it work? The card details are entered and the payment is confirmed with special codes or passwords for greater security. This is how the money goes to the seller's account.

Shopping online is convenient, but you should be careful and buy only from secure sites. And most importantly - always shop with your parents or other adults! Often on the Internet, in various applications or games, goods and services are offered that cost money. Sometimes these are additional extras to the application, items or bonuses in the game. For example, if you use your parent's phone, to which a payment card has been added, you can buy these things so imperceptibly that you don't even realize it. But you should not forget that this is actually spending real money that can be used to buy something else – a backpack, a game, sneakers, a movie ticket, etc.

Adults also use other ways to pay online – for example, through special applications called digital wallets, which store card details and do not need to be entered for each payment. Another way is by bank transfer, which means that they send money from their bank account to the seller’s account. This method is usually more suitable for larger purchases.

Some people when shopping online prefer to pay in cash or by card when they receive their order from the courier. This is called payment on delivery or cash on delivery. Some stores charge extra for the service.

Each of these methods has advantages – some are faster, others are safer. However, you should always be careful!

How do you pay when you shop? And which method do your parents or relatives use most often and why?

 

Why is a receipt important?

When you pay in cash or by card, the seller must give you a receipt. Always keep it, because it is not just a piece of paper. It contains important information about your purchase – how much each item costs, the total amount paid, the date and place. You can check if everything is correct, because sometimes mistakes are made. The receipt is also necessary if you want to return something or exchange it. Sometimes it also serves as a guarantee for the purchased item.