Barter (economics)

Barter is when two people trade something they have for something else they want, instead of using money. So, for example, if you have a toy car and your friend has a toy truck, you might trade your car for their truck so you can play with something different. This way, you both get something you want without spending any money.

People used to do this a lot in the past when money wasn’t invented yet or when it was difficult to get it. People would barter goods like food, clothing, and tools for other goods they needed. For example, a farmer might trade some crops for some milk from a cow farmer.

Nowadays, bartering is not as common because we use money to buy and trade things. But sometimes, people still barter for goods and services that are hard to find or too expensive to buy with money. If you have something to trade and you can find someone who wants it, bartering can be a fun and creative way to get what you need!