Money makes the world go around.
But how much do you really know about the item everyone in the world desires to accumulate?
You're in contact with it everyday, whether it's money used to purchase goods and services, or working your job and getting money transferred into your back account.
Money is how we distinguish people's economic and social status, but what is it really?
Here are 10 truths about money you may not know.
1. Money is not made out of trees.
Contrary to popular opinion, money isn't made out of paper. U.S. paper money is made out of 75% cotton and 25% linen. In the 1700s, people repaired torn bills with a needle and thread.
2. It costs more than a penny to make a penny.
According to the U.S. mint, pennies cost approximately 1.7 cents per coin to manufacture. Now that's time and money wasted.
3. Worn out cash turns to compost.
Some farms in the U.S. turns four tons of worn-out U.S. cash into compost every day.
4. Printing money is more expensive than you think.
The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing uses approximately nine tons of ink to print 26 million currency notes each day. That costs around $974 million!
5. More than 90% of bills have dangerous bacteria, and a trace of cocaine, on them.
Paper bills can carry the flu virus for more than two weeks, and reportedly carry more germs than a toilet. What's more shocking is that research found that a significant number of U.S. bills contain traces of cocaine, but it's not enough to cause any health risks. Scientists say that this doesn't happen because of rampant drug use, rather they get contaminated inside currency-counting machines at the bank.
Keep going to learn more mind-blowing facts about money!
6. The grooves on your coins serve a purpose.
The grooves around the edge of quarters and dimes keep people from scraping off the coin faces and selling them as expensive metals.
7. Less than 10% of the world's currency is physical money.
The internet is where most money is held and transferred. This shouldn't surprise anyone, but the amount is still shocking.
8. Studies found that money issues are the leading cause of divorce.
Think about the last few times you argued with your significant other, did it have something to do with money? Research has found that it's not just arguing about money that leads to divorce, it's couples hiding transactions from one another.
9. Only dead people can appear on U.S. currency.
It was tradition for quite some time until it turned into law. Patriotic citizens thought it would honor those Presidents who made a difference in the formation of the United States of America.
10. Nearly half of the world's population lives on less than U.S. $3.
That's more than 3 billion people living in extreme poverty. And approximately 71% of the world's population lives on less than $10 a day.
Which fact about money surprised you the most?