TO SET UP THE GAME

  1. Shuffle the game cards and place them face down on the game board in their respective places.
  2. Distribute a copy of the Score Sheet and Cash Sheet to each player. How to fill up the game sheets.
    • Score Sheet. This will be used to track your assets, liabilities, expenses and income.
    • Cash Sheet. This sheet will be used to record your cash transactions and track your current cash position. No banknotes are used in this game.
  3. Get an Auditor – the player on your right. The auditor’s role is to ensure you record all your transactions and calculations accurately.
  4. Get a Job – each player randomly draws a Job Card and copies the information on the card to the Score Sheet, using a pencil. The Job Card represents the “hand” you have been dealt with in life.
    • Record every item in the Assets, Liabilities and Expenses section to the Score Sheet; each player begins with no children (mark as zero).
    • Record Savings in the Income section to the Cash Sheet. This represents each player’s cash in hand.
  5. Choose a Token – each player chooses a coloured Token and matching coloured chip to represent them during the game. Write the colour on the Score Sheet to prevent confusion. Place the Token in the area marked “Start Here”.
  6. Get a Dream – each player chooses a Dream on the Inner Circle and places his coloured chip on it. Two or more players may choose the same Dream.

STARTING IN THE RUT

“The Rut” is the outer track on the game board, where most people find themselves. This is where they generally make poor financial decisions. When you land on a Find A Mentor square, you get to join the Inner Circle, subject to conditions indicated in the square.

The “Inner Circle” is where the Fat Cats roam and play according to different rules. You can make smarter financial decisions and get the chance to buy your Dream. There are more opportunities in the Inner Circle and you may access sound advice from competent advisors.

Your goals are to accumulate assets to create sufficient passive income to retire early, buy your Dream and create financial security.

WINNING THE GAME

The game ends when the winner is declared as the first player to:

Retire Early – increase your Passive Income until it exceeds your Active Income

AND either one of the following:

Buy Your Dream – Accumulate passive income of at least $10,000 more than your Total Expenses, and land on the box adjacent to your Dream.

OR

Increase Your Passive Income to $20,000 – You can be on any square in the gameboard.

Top

YOU ARE NOW READY TO PLAY!

To Begin

  1. Each player rolls one dice – the highest dice throw starts first. Play then passes to the player on the left in a clockwise direction.
  2. Play tokens are moved in a clockwise direction. Two or more tokens may occupy the same space with no effect on the players involved.
  3. Players respond to the situations as dictated on the spaces they land on.

PAY DAY

  1.  When you land on or pass the Pay Day square, you receive the amount of your Nett Income [Total Income minus Total Expenses]. Record this in your Cash Sheet.
    • If the Nett Income is negative, deduct the amount from your Cash Sheet each time you land on or pass the Pay Day square.
    • If you do not have enough cash on hand to pay, you are bankrupt (see “Bankruptcy“)
  2. Go on a spending spree at Pay Day. Pick up an Expenses card after you collect your Nett Income.
    • If you pass Pay Day and land on an Expenses square, collect your Pay Day and pick up only one Expenses card.
    • If you have retired (see “Retirement Day“), you do not have to pick up any Expenses card.
  3. You must ask for or declare your Pay Day before the next player rolls the dice.
    • If you forget to ask for it, your Nett Income for that turn is forfeited. If your Pay Day is forfeited, you may also skip the Expenses card for that turn.
      [A player should not deliberately skip Pay Day to circumvent situations where their Pay Day is negative. If all remaining players agree, the player may be forced to miss a turn or made to Total Expenses ].
    • If you have retired (see “Retirement Day“), you do not have to declare your Pay Day to collect your money. You may still claim your Nett Income after the next player takes his turn.

Top

OPPORTUNITIES – PERSONAL and CHOOSE A DEAL squares

  1. These are opportunities that come your way. They include a variety of investment, business and personal opportunities that may help you achieve your goals to Retire Early and win the game.
  2. Real Estate opportunities are related to property investments. The risks are moderate and these deals may provide capital gains and/or cash flow income.
  3. Share Market opportunities are related to stocks and equity, unit trusts and other portfolio investments. The risks are high and these deals may provide capital gains. If you choose Share Market opportunities, you can pick two cards but they must be opened and acted on one after the other.
    • The first card is turned over and, if the opportunity is open to all players, shown to every player. All players must make a decision on this (including to do nothing).
    • Once the first card is acted on, the second card is turned over and, if the opportunity is open to all players, shown to every player.
    • For stocks that pay a dividend, the dividends are considered as passive income, unless:
      • The company goes bankrupt and its stocks are declared worthless. All shares and dividends must be erased;
      • The shares undergo a Reverse Split. All dividends are erased.
    • Stock splits and trading price fluctuations do not affect dividends in this game.
  4. Personal opportunities are related to business, employment and family situations. The risks vary as are the income potential.
  5. If you land on Choose A Deal, you may choose from any one of the three types of opportunities. Pick up the corresponding Opportunity Card from the top of the stack and read it aloud.
    If you land on Personal, you may only pick up a Personal opportunity card.
  6. All Opportunity Cards are followed by a Market Forces card AFTER decisions have been made on the opportunity.
    Market Forces are events and situations that happen in the world, beyond your control. They may make you a lot of money, cause you to lose a lot of money, or have no effect on you whatsoever.
  7. The Market Forces card affects only the player whose turn is in play, unless stated otherwise on the card.
    If the Market Forces card applies to all players, all players with matching assets may act on it.

If all the cards in a stack have been played

Market Forces, Expenses, Share Market. The cards are reshuffled and reused.

Real Estate, Personal, Mentor Advice. All players must surrender their cards (except for AnyWay business and cards that offer special allowances and immunities, e.g. all-risk insurance and protection from expenses, downsizing or medical problems). These cards are reshuffled and reused.

Dealing with Assets

  1. Assets may only be sold or liquidated when a card permits, or when forced by bankruptcy.
  2. Players may only sell assets that they own.
  3. The player who gets the Opportunity Card may sell the card to another player only if the card allows it.
    • Players may negotiate the brokerage or commission among themselves.
    • The player who buys the card must then buy the asset at the price specified on the card before the next player takes his turn.
  4. All opportunities offered by the Opportunity Cards must be acted upon immediately. The facilitator may impose a time limit (e.g. 15 seconds) for decisions.
    • Opportunities cannot be kept for use at a later time in the game. They expire when the next player moves.
  5. The buyer of the asset (except for Share Market) keeps the card.
  6. All transaction details must be recorded in the Score Sheet and Cash Sheet.
    • If a player sells an asset, he must adjust his Score Sheet accordingly.
    • The proceeds from the sale is recorded in the Cash Sheet.

Top

EXPENSES

Expenses represent items that you spend your money on, such as shopping and holidays. Often, they are unnecessary and fulfil an emotional need. Sometimes, they are unexpected, such as medical and legal fees. When you land on the Expenses square, pick up an Expenses card and follow its instructions.

Expenses are not optional, unless stated otherwise. You may borrow from the bank (at prevailing rates) to pay for your expenses.

FIND A MENTOR

You have the good fortune of befriending someone who is more experienced, wiser and competent than you. A Mentor helps you avoid the pitfalls of the Rut, teaching you how make better financial and business decisions.

  1. A player who lands on this square may choose to continue in the Rut or enter the Inner Circle by paying the required amount stated, if applicable.
  2. If you choose to enter the Inner Circle:
    1. Reduce your taxes by 20%, rounded up to the next 10. Adjust your Total Expenses and Pay Day accordingly.
    2. On your next turn, proceed into the space indicated by the arrow and move clockwise.
    3. Remain in the Inner Circle until you land on the Lose Your Mentor square.

Top

GAME OPTIONS

RETIREMENT DAY

You may choose to retire at any point in the game when your Total Passive Income exceeds your Total Active Income (including Part-Time Income). Ideally, your Passive Income should also exceed your Total Expenses, so that your Pay Day remains positive.

When you retire:

  1. Every other player pays you $200 as retirement gift.
  2. Erase all your active income (including Part-Time Income) and taxes; adjust your Total Income and Pay Day accordingly.
  3. Move your token to the next Find A Mentor square (and pay the amount stated). Enter the Inner Circle on your next turn.
  4. Receive the RETIRED: OUT OF THE RUT card to enjoy special privileges.
    1. You are immune to the Lose Your Mentor square when you are in the Inner Circle. Landing on this square has no effect. You are permanently OUT OF THE RUT!
    2. You do not have to declare your Pay Day to receive your Nett Income. It is not forfeited if you forget to ask for it.
    3. You can now win the game by increasing your Passive Income to:
      1. $10,000 more than your Total Expenses AND landing on the square adjacent to your Dream; or
      2. $20,000, regardless of where you are on the board.

If a Retired player chooses to get a job and rejoin The Rut, he must reinstate his salary and income taxes based on the original figures printed on the Job Card. All previous benefits and privileges are revoked and disregarded. The RETIRED: OUT OF THE RUT card must also be returned.

Top

AUDIT

The game is paused every 30 minutes (or sooner, as decided by the facilitator or by consensus among players). Each player hands his Score Sheet to his Auditor to check on the accuracy of calculations AND completeness in record-keeping.

If errors or omissions are found in the Score Sheet and Cash Sheet, the Auditor claims $100 from the player’s Cash Sheet for every original mistake found. Additional errors resulting from the original error are not penalised.

Top

BANK LOANS

It is difficult to invest without sufficient funds. The bank will offer you overdraft loans on the following terms:

  1. Multiples of $100.
  2. Overdraft interest rate: 10% per month (for each Pay Day). E.g. A loan of $100 will increase your bank overdraft payment by $10 each Pay Day.
  3. Your loan quantum is limited to eight times your total Nett Income, inclusive of projected income from the purchase of an asset, rounded down to the next 100. E.g.
    1. If your Pay Day is $1,000, you may borrow up to $8,000.
    2. If your Pay Day is $1,010, you may borrow $8,000 ($1,010 x 8 = $8,080; rounded down to $8,000).
    3. If your Pay Day is $1,000 and you are buying an asset that can make you $120 nett a month, your projected total nett income will be $1,120 and so, you may borrow up to $8,900 (rounded down from $8,960).
  4. If you are in the Inner Circle, you may borrow up to 10 times your total Nett Income, inclusive of projected income from the purchase of an asset, rounded down to the next 100.
  5. You may only borrow if you are not declared a bankrupt.

When borrowing from the bank:

  1. Add the loan amount to your Cash Sheet.
  2. Record the loan as an overdraft in both the Liabilities and Expenses columns of the Score sheet.
  3. Increase your Total Expenses and decrease your Pay Day accordingly.

You may repay your bank loan in full or in parts at any time during the game.

REDUCING LIABILITIES: PAYING OFF YOUR DEBTS

You may pay off your debt, including bank overdrafts, to reduce your Total Expenses at any time during the game.

  1. Only liabilities related to Elective Expenses may be paid off or reduced. These are car loan, credit card debt, education loan, home loan, business loan and bank overdrafts.
    1. Taxes, General Expenses, Insurance and Childcare cannot be paid off. They are fixed expenses and not “debt”.
    2. Real Estate mortgages cannot be paid off. Their associated expenses have already been computed into the assets’ Nett Income. They are itemised here for accounting purposes and do not show up under the Expenses column.
    3. Business loans and liabilities are treated similar to Real Estate mortgages, unless the loan is incurred due to a Market Forces card (for example, a failed business deal) and it creates a new Expense item under the Income Statement. Under such circumstances, this liability can be paid off.
  2. You may pay off your debts partially and pro-rate the expenses, rounded up to the next 10. For ease of play, this game assumes a fixed interest rate. E.g. If you have a car loan of $17,000 and monthly car payment of $340:
    1. You may pay off $8,500 and reduce your car payment to $170.
    2. You may pay off $4,250 and reduce your car payment to $90 (the actual figure is $85, rounded up to $90).

When paying off your debt:

  1. Reduce the amount from your Cash Sheet.
  2. Erase or reduce the loan from the Liabilities section in the Score Sheet.
  3. Erase or reduce the loan payment from the Expenses section in the Score Sheet.
  4. Reduce your Total Expenses and increase your Pay Day.

Top

BANKRUPTCY

If your Pay Day is negative and you do not have the cash on hand to pay the amount due, you can either quit the game or declare bankruptcy.

  1. Sell any number of assets you own to the bank and get half the deposit into your Cash Sheet.
  2. Use these funds to pay off your debts until your Total Income is greater than your Total Expenses, and you have a positive Pay Day.
  3. Lose 3 turns.

If, after selling all your assets, your Pay Day is still negative, wipe out half your car loans and credit card debt, along with half their expenses. You have downsized your car and used the savings to pay down your credit card debt. You may not reduce your home or education loans. If your Pay Day is still negative, you are out of the game.

Top

UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE INNER CIRCLE

More Frequent & Better PAY DAYS

  1. You must still declare Pay Day as you pass or land on the square, to collect your monthly Nett Income. If you are Retired, you do not need to declare and may collect your money even after the next player starts their turn.
  2. You do not have to pick up an Expenses card at Pay Day.
  3. When you land on a Pay Day + Choose A Deal square, you may choose a deal. Standard rules on Opportunity Cards apply. You must land on this square to be able to choose a deal.
  4. If you land on or pass a Pay Day + Mentor Advice square, pick up a Mentor Advice card. A mentor is someone who can coach you, offer you good advice and connect you to experts..

Lower taxes

When you enter the Inner Circle, you immediately benefit from having a mentor, who advises you to reduce your taxes legally. Reduce all taxes (Part-Time Income Taxes included) by 20%. Round up all numbers to the next 10. This reduction remains even after you leave the Inner Circle. Adjust to Total Expenses and Pay Day accordingly.

Each time you re-enter the Inner Circle, you may claim another 20% reduction in taxes.

Better credit

You may borrow 10 times your Nett Income, inclusive of projected income from the purchase of an asset, rounded down to the next 100 (see “Bank Loans“).

Top

Lose Your Mentor

You suffer the misfortune of losing your mentor’s guidance. This may happen because the “student” decides he no longer needs a teacher; both protégé-mentor drift apart; or they are separated by long distances or death.

  1. Players who land here must return to The Rut on their next turn, proceeding to the space indicated by the arrow.
  2. Reductions in taxes and expenses made during your presence in the Inner Circle remain unchanged.
  3. Business incomes, such as AnyWay business, that were increased for the duration of the Inner Circle must be reduced to previous levels.
  4. Without guidance, you make expensive mistakes. Reduce the cash balance in your Cash Sheet by half.

Top