Glossary Terms:

Using advertisements (public notices, displays or presentations often based on celebrity endorsements, appeals to authority, bandwagon effects and attractive imagery) to promote the sale of goods or services.

A financial institution that provides various products and services to its customers, including checking and savings accounts, loans and currency exchange.

An arrangement by which a bank holds funds on behalf of a depositor. Also, the balance of funds held under such an arrangement, credited to and subject to withdrawal by the depositor.

A trade name used to identify a product produced by a particular company, distinguishing it from similar products produced by competitors.

Any activity or organization that produces or exchanges goods or services for a profit.

Money in the form of paper currency or coins (as distinct from checks, money orders or credit).

A written order to a financial institution directing the financial institution to pay a stated amount of money, as instructed, from the customer's account.

A financial account into which people deposit money and from which they withdraw money by writing checks.

People who use goods and services to satisfy their personal needs and not for resale or in the production of other goods and services.

An amount that must be paid or spent to buy or obtain something. The effort, loss or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something.

A small, specially coded plastic card issued by a bank, business, etc., authorizing the cardholder to purchase goods or services on credit.

A conclusion reached after considering alternatives and their results.

Money put into a financial account. Also, to place money in a financial account.

The study of how people, firms and societies choose to allocate scarce resources with alternative uses.

Wrongful or criminal deception intended to manipulate a person for the purpose of gain, usually financial.

Tangible objects that satisfy economic wants.

A practice or arrangement whereby a company provides a guarantee of compensation for specified forms of loss, damage, injury or death. People obtain such guarantees by buying insurance policies, for which they pay premiums. The process allows for the spreading out of risk over a pool of insurance policyholders, with the expectation that only a few policholders will actually experience losses for which claims must be made. Types of insurance include automobile, health, renter's, homeowner's, disability and life.

The purchase of capital goods (including machinery, technology or new buildings) that are used to produce goods and services. In personal finance, the amount of money invested in stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investment instruments.

Anything that is generally accepted as final payment for goods and services; serves as a medium of exchange, a store of value and a standard of value. Characteristics of money are portability, stability in value, uniformity, durability and acceptance.

The amount of money that people pay when they buy a good or service; the amount they receive when they sell a good or service.

A good or service that can be used to satisfy a want.

The basic kinds of resources used to produce goods and services: land or natural resources, human resources (including labor and entrepreneurship), and capital.

Earnings from an investment, usually expressed as an annual percentage.

Disposable income (income after taxes) minus consumption spending.

Activities performed by people, firms or government agencies to satisfy economic wants.

Use money now to buy goods and services.

The exchange of goods and services for money or other goods and services.

Effort applied to achieve a purpose or result, often for pay; skills and knowledge put to use to get something done; employment at a job or in a position; occupation, profession, business, trade, craft, etc.