After the financial crisis is before the financial crisis - or not? The book "Money - what is it anyway?" was written as a lecture script for teenagers and young adults, but also offers an insightful glimpse into the subject for all age groups. The goal is to provide an easy introduction to the monetary and financial system as well as to invite critical scrutiny. The topics: - Money as a medium of exchange - Money as a means of preserving value - Debt money system - investment - money creation - book money - loan - compound interest - inflation - redistribution - economic growth - consumption of resources - sustainability - money supply - financial bubbles