THE UNIT IN 7 NUGGETS:

*The United States has a "mixed economy", which means it is mostly based on capitalism with a little socialism (government intervention) for the public good.

*You are free to save money you earn and invest this extra money in banks or the stock market.

*People often borrow money to purchase items as large as homes (called mortgages) and vehicles (auto loans), or as small as every day grocery items using credit cards. This results in debt, or money a person owes to another institution or company. 

*You can invest their money into a variety of areas. Investing happens when you put your money into an area with the hope that it will grow and earn money for you. Many invest in the stock market by purchasing shares of a company. Any citizen can become a "shareholder" and own a small part of a company. 

*If the company succeeds and does well, its value will increase and your investment will also grow. You can sell your shares whenever you want, but most stockholders advise that owning stock is a long-term investment.

*Banks offer interest to encourage citizens to store their money there in checking accounts, saving accounts, or other accounts. Interest adds a small portion of money to what you deposit. 

*The goal of a business is to make a profit. A profit is what is earned after expenses and taxes are subtracted.