JackFairy tales have always been used to give lessons about
life. The story of Jack and the Bean Stalk is a good lesson
about the importance of knowing about money and banks. While you
might think that you know the story of Jack, go to Jack and the
Beanstalk , from Old Fairy Tales.   In this lesson you will list
the roles and functions of money, apply the definition of money
to various alternatives to money, and describe the role of
banks.   The story of Jack asks the question, "What is money?"
An old quote in economics is, "Money is what money does." In
other words we know gold coins are money but beans are not, but
why? For something to be accepted as money it must perform three
functions. It must be:  1. A Medium of Exchange 2. A Unit of
Account 3. Store of Value  What is meant by these three
functions?  First, for money to be a medium of exchange everyone
has to accept that "it" is money. A gold coin is money because
everyone will take it in trade for goods and services. In some
ancient cultures, shells w