Self-checkout

Self-checkout is like a special machine in a store that lets you buy things without asking grown-ups for help. You can use it to scan your own items and then pay for them all by yourself!

First thing you do is find the self-checkout machine in the store. It will be near the regular checkout lanes, but won't have a cashier. You can usually tell which one is the self-checkout because it will have a big screen and a scanner to scan the barcodes on your items.

Next, you take your items and put them on the special area of the machine that is called the "bagging area". You might need to press a button that says "start" or "scan" to get the machine to work.

Then, you pick up an item and scan its barcode with the scanner. This is like giving the machine a special code to know what you're buying. You can do this for all of your items until you're done shopping.

Once you've scanned everything, the machine will tell you how much all the items cost. It might also ask you if you want to pay with cash, a card or your phone.

If you want to use cash, the machine will take your money and give you change. If you want to pay with a card, you need to insert your card into a slot, type in your pin (the secret number only you know), and then the machine will charge your card.

When you're done paying, the self-checkout machine will print you a receipt, which is a special paper that shows you what you bought and how much it all cost. Then, you can take your items and your receipt and go home!

Using the self-checkout is a great way to learn how to do things by yourself, and it's also usually faster than waiting in line for the cashier.