So I shop around. I want to hold out for a better price, but I really need the cash. I don't blame you. This isn't very exciting stuff, and it may well be obvious to everyone. But it's very powerful, and you gain tremendous insight into securities valuation if you get a death grip on this whole idea right away.
Bonds are loans.
I am repeating that because loans are the basis of all commerce. They are the fundamental foundation of finance. Time value of money is all about loans, which means it is all about bonds. And the price of every asset in the financial markets depends on prices for risk-free bonds. If you can understand loans, you already understand bonds.