For the more serious board game player, Cashflow is right up your alley. The Cashflow board game aims to teach players the basic principles of accounting, investing and financial strategies while having fun together.
About the Cashflow Board Game
The designer of the Cashflow board game, Robert Kiyosaki, is a well-known motivational speaker and author of the popular self-help book Rich Dad Poor Dad. In 1996, he designed the original game Cashflow 101: How to Get Out of the Rat Race as a tool to reinforce the ideas and concepts that he covers in his books and lectures.
Cashflow Board Game Goals
The main goal of the game is to learn how to rethink the way you view money and how you use it. Once you learn how to put your money to work for you, then you will be able to achieve financial freedom, "escape the rat race," and get on the fast track to financial independence. A secondary goal is to better understand how to fill out financial forms appropriately and transition this gained knowledge to your life once the game is over.
Players
Cashflow is a great game for those 14 years old and older. The game takes anywhere from an hour to three hours to play through. You can play with just two people and up to six players. The more players that participate, the more interesting the game typically is.
Game Components of Cashflow 101
The Cashflow board game is made up of:
- A one page introduction from Robert Kiyosaki
- Game board
- 6 player tokens
- 1 pad of player financial sheets
- 12 Profession cards
- 42 Big Deals cards
- 42 Doodad cards
- 42 Market cards
- 56 Small deals cards
- Game money
- 2 dice
- 6 Cashflow game pencils
Playing the Game
Cashflow is easy to get the hang of with some practice. Be sure to read the instructions before playing and ask an experienced player for help if needed.
- To start the game of Cashflow 101, each player gets a rat game piece. Roll the die to determine who will go first. The highest number starts.
- Write down your dream on your individual form.
- Deal the profession cards face down to each player and copy the appropriate card information onto your individual form.
- Begin playing by rolling the die and picking up the appropriate cards when you land on the given space.
- Once you get out of the rat race, you advance to the other part of the board known as the fast track. Once you are on the fast track, you can achieve your dream.
- As you roll the dice and move around the game board, you must make financial decisions involving big deals, small deals, and investment opportunities. You will also receive your pay, deal in the real estate market and make purchases. Everything you do must be carefully recorded in your financial statement.
- You can move out of the rat race when you have successfully made your money work for you.
Strategies and Playing Tips
Keep in mind that the main point of the game is to learn, so you can apply your game strategies to your life. To be successful in the game:
- Be sure to invest your cash wisely. As the game progresses, there are plenty of opportunities to lose your cash.
- Partner with other players strategically and make big deals if you're up for taking a risk.
- Experiment and take risks that you wouldn't normally take in real life and see how you can get your money to work for you. Playing conservatively will keep you in the "rat race" for much longer in general.
- Play in teams of two to make the game more interesting. Partner with someone who is money savvy if you are just learning the ropes.
Game Editions
Cash Flow came out in 1996 and since then there have been many editions. These include:
- Cashflow 101 - Published in 1996, this was the original game sold by Cashflow Technologies Inc. The game was updated in 2008, 2012, and 2016 keeping the game modern and current.
- Cashflow 202 - Published in 1999, the focus of the game is technical inventing. Since this is an expansion edition, you must have Cashflow 101 to play the game.
- Cashflow for Kids - Published in 1999, the game teaches children the principles of learning how to make their money work for them and also develops math skills.
- Spanish, Polish, Russian, German, Czech Cashflow 101 Board Game - With the popularity of the game rising, other languages were added to make it more inclusive for people all around the world to play.
- Cashflow Classic - This version of Cashflow is played free online and is accessed from the Rich Dad website, although you do have to register for the free Insider's Community.
Cashflow Game Clubs
There are hundreds of Cashflow game clubs throughout the world. To find a club, or learn how to start one in your area, visit club information on the Rich Dad website.
Learning While Playing
Cashflow is a fun game that is also highly educational. It can be purchased for around $80 on Amazon. Although this seems expensive for a board game, think of Cashflow as a learning tool on the road to financial freedom as well as a family friendly game to play with teens and adults.
