The Four Corners
Learn more: Budgeting
Real Life
The Four Corners are the most important spaces on the board and represent Budgeting.
Establishing a weekly, monthly or annual budget is the first step to getting a handle on your finances.
You have to figure out how much money is coming in and how much money is going out
to calculate how much is left for saving and investing.
How to Play the Game
The Green Corner represents your earned income. Each time you complete a trip around the board and pass the Green Corner,
you Get $20. If you land on the Green Corner, you Get an extra $5. This extra $5 might be a bonus payment, an inheritance,
or money from a second job.
The three Red Corners represent your essential living expenses. Essential living expenses represent the minimum expenses you need to live.
Examples are food, shelter and clothing. Each time you pass a Red Corner you Give $5.
There are $15 of essential expenses that must be paid each trip around the board. If you land on a Red Corner, you will have to
Give extra money due to an unexpected expense. Unexpected expenses might be money needed to repair a car or money needed to replace
a broken phone or money needed to cover a medical emergency.
1.
You start the game with $20.
2.
For each complete trip around the board (which equals 1 year), you need to create a Budget and establish an emergency fund.
At a minimum, you should Budget for $15 for essential expenses for each trip around the board.
3.
You also must plan for unexpected expenses by establishing an emergency fund.
As a rule of thumb, an emergency fund should equal 6 months of your essential living expenses.
You should establish an emergency fund of $7.50, or half of your yearly essential expenses.
4.
Once you have your essential expenses and emergency fund covered, any additional money can be used for discretionary spending,
saving or investing.
5.
For the game, you have two choices to use your discretionary dollars. You can do nothing
(the equivalent of keeping your money under the mattress) or you can Give money to potentially Get money depending on
where you land on the board.
6.
If you need to sell an asset to Get cash, click on the asset prior to your spin.
7.
You win if your opponent goes bankrupt or if you are the first player to have a net worth of at least $100.
The Piggy
Learn more: Saving
Real Life
The Piggy represents a guaranteed savings account which is the foundation of an overall retirement planning strategy.
Examples of guaranteed savings vehicles that can also provide guaranteed income are pensions and annuities.
In addition, checking accounts, savings accounts, certificate of deposits and money market funds are relatively safe
investments and pay varying degrees of interest on your money so they are also considered a Piggy.
How to Play the Game
1.
If you land on the Piggy you have the choice to Give $2 to Get $1 each time you pass that space for the rest of the game.
A stacker is placed on the space for each $2 given. If you Give $10, you have five stackers on the space and Get $5 each time you pass.
2.
Once you have your essential expenses and emergency fund covered, any additional money can be used for discretionary spending,
saving or investing.
3.
For the game, you have two choices to use your discretionary dollars. You can do nothing
(the equivalent of keeping your money under the mattress) or you can Give money to potentially Get money depending
on where you land on the board.
4.
When you Give to the Piggy, you are creating a guaranteed account for the remainder of the game.
When you Give $10 to the Piggy, you Get $5 each time you pass.
5.
In addition, the Piggy can help you cover your essential expenses. If you have five stackers on
the Piggy near a Red Corner you have “covered the corner” (Get $5 from Piggy; Give $5 to corner).
6.
If you need to sell the Piggy, click on the asset prior to your spin. You can sell the Piggy for $2 per stacker.
7.
You win if your opponent goes bankrupt or if you are the first player to have a net worth of at least $100.
The Chart
Learn more: Investing
Real Life
The Chart represents a non-guaranteed investment account. If you are saving for longer-term goals (10+ years),
investing in the stock market can be a good way to create wealth. Some examples used to invest in the stock market are individual stocks,
passive index funds, and active mutual funds.
How to Play the Game
1.
If you land on the Chart you have the choice to Give $1 for a chance to roll the Chart die each time you pass that space for the rest
of the game. A stacker will be placed on the space for each $1 given. For example, if you Give $2, you Get two stackers.
Each time you pass that space you Get two chances to roll the Chart die for the rest of the game.
2.
Once you have your essential expenses and emergency fund covered, any additional money can be used for discretionary spending,
saving or investing.
3.
For the game, you have two choices to use your discretionary dollars. You can do nothing (the equivalent of keeping your money under the mattress)
or you can Give money to potentially Get money depending on where you land on the board.
4.
When you Give to the Chart, you are creating a non-guaranteed investment account for the remainder of the game. The Chart die is a 10-sided die.
When you Give $1 to the Chart, you have a chance to either Get $10, $5, $3, $1, or $0, or Give $1 or $5.
5.
If you need to sell the Chart, click on the asset prior to your spin. You can sell the Chart for $1 per stacker.
6.
You win if your opponent goes bankrupt or if you are the first player to have a net worth of at least $100.
The Ticket
Learn more: Speculating
Real Life
The Ticket represents speculation or gambling.
Examples are playing the lottery, betting on a sporting event or playing a slot machine.
With gambling, once the event is over or the slot machine’s reels stop spinning, your chance to win money is over.
It is an all or nothing proposition. You either win or lose.
How to Play the Game
1.
If you land on the Ticket you have the choice to Give $1 to Get one chance to roll the Ticket dice.
For each $1 you Give, you roll the Ticket dice one time. For example, if you Give $2, you roll the Ticket dice two times
to try to win the game. Five rolls maximum per turn. Both dice must land on the money bag image to win $100.
2.
Once you have your essential expenses and emergency fund covered, any additional money can be used for discretionary spending,
saving or investing.
3.
For the game, you have two choices to use your discretionary dollars. You can do nothing (the equivalent of keeping your money under the mattress)
or you can Give money to potentially Get money depending on where you land on the board.
4.
When you Give to the Ticket, you are going for it all to win $100. If you are unsuccessful with your roll, the money you gave is gone.
5.
You win if your opponent goes bankrupt or if you are the first player to have a net worth of at least $100.
The House
Learn more: Owning
Real Life
The House represents asset ownership. It illustrates how an asset appreciates in value over time,
but may lose value if you have to sell it in a fire sale. Owning an asset can be very rewarding and financially beneficial.
Examples of owning an asset are a primary residence, an investment property, a business venture, a private investment,
commercial real estate or a piece of art or jewelry.
How to Play the Game
1.
If you land on the House you have the choice to Give $10 to Get $50 on the fifth pass of that space.
For each $10 you Give, one stacker will be placed on that space. On the fifth pass you Get $50.
2.
Once you have your essential expenses and emergency fund covered, any additional money can be used for discretionary spending,
saving or investing.
3.
For the game, you have two choices to use your discretionary dollars. You can do nothing (the equivalent of keeping your money under the mattress)
or you can Give money to potentially Get money depending on where you land on the board.
4.
When you Give to the House, you are investing in an asset that is appreciating in value, but does not provide any income or cash flow during the time you own it.
When you Give $10 to the House, you will Get $50 on the fifth pass.
5.
If you need to sell the House, click on the asset prior to your spin. You can sell the House for $5 per stacker, a 50% loss on the asset.
6.
You win if your opponent goes bankrupt or if you are the first player to have a net worth of at least $100.
The Pillars
Learn more: Borrowing
Real Life
The Pillars represent Borrowing.
Borrowing can be a positive financial transaction if you have a plan to repay the loan and a plan for the use of the proceeds.
Examples of borrowing are a home loan, a line of credit, credit cards, or student loans.
How to Play the Game
1.
If you land on the Pillars you have the choice to Give $1 to Get $10 and a stacker will be placed on that space.
For the next four passes of that space, you Give $5. On the fourth pass, the stacker will be removed showing the loan was paid off for a total of $20.
2.
Once you have your essential expenses and emergency fund covered, any additional money can be used for discretionary spending,
saving or investing.
3.
For the game, you have two choices to use your discretionary dollars. You can do nothing (the equivalent of keeping your money under the mattress)
or you can Give money to potentially Get money depending on where you land on the board.
4.
When you Give to the Pillars, you are borrowing $10 to spend or invest. You should have a plan for the use of the $10 as well as a plan to pay off your loan.
5.
You are not able to have more than $30 in Pillars loans at any one time.
6.
You win if your opponent goes bankrupt or if you are the first player to have a net worth of at least $100.
