Cashflow 101 Boardgame : Rules/FAQ How to play ?

Robert Kiyosaki’s Cashflow 101 Games

David Ly’s Page

Latest Edition : 2nd December 2002
http://dly.free.fr

Summary *
Introduction *
Playing the Game *
Official FAQ *
Additional FAQ *
Changing Rules *
Different rules *
Making the game more realistic *
Singaporean style *
Prices/Where to buy ? *
Links *

Introduction
This page aims to collect and to show in a summarised version the FAQ/talks on richdad.com forums plus some personal researches/works as far as the Cashflow 101 game (from Robert Kiyosaki) is concerned.

Playing the Game

Official FAQ

Source : http://www6.richdad.com/faq101.m
FAQ address has changed since then and it is available here

Cashflow 101 Game Questions

Q. How many people can play CASHFLOW ? Can I play on my own ?
A. CASHFLOW® was designed to be played by more than one player. Better interaction occurs when 3 to 6 people are playing. By inviting your friends to join you in playing CASHFLOW®, your learning experience will be heightened by the interaction of your group.

Q. Do I have to watch the video and listen to the audio tapes that come with CASHFLOW® 101 before I play the game ?
A. It is not necessary to watch the video or listen to the audio tapes before playing CASHFLOW® 101. However, the concepts that are presented in these materials can be applied to the game, as well as to real life, and may assist you in getting out of the rat race more quickly !

Q. When I purchase real estate, there is a cash flow amount stated on the card (plus or minus). Is this amount the net amount after the mortgage payment or do I have to calculate a mortgage loan payment ? Can I pay off a real estate mortgage on an investment property and then increase my passive income ?
A. Real estate mortgages cannot be paid off on investment properties in CASHFLOW® 101. The mortgage payment is calculated in determining the ROI and the monthly cash flow. It is as if you have a property manager who handles the property for you, collects the rents, pays the expenses including the related mortgage and then sends you the balance each month (assuming it is +).

Q. If I land on the downsized square and I do not have enough cash on hand, can I sell my stock to the bank for the price at which it was purchased ? May I borrow the money from the bank ?
A. You may not sell your stock to the bank. Stock is only available at the price indicated by an opportunity or market card when drawn by a player. You may, however, take a loan from the bank.

Q. If I don’t have enough cash, can I borrow money from the bank to make the down payment for an investment property ?
A. Yes. You may borrow money from the bank to raise enough cash for the down payment on an investment property. BUT remember you must include the bank loan as a liability and 10% of the loan amount must be recorded as a monthly expense. This means that your cash flow is adjusted up by the cash flow generated by the property and down by the amount of your monthly loan payment.

Q. If I am almost out of the rat race, can I borrow money from the bank to raise enough cash to buy an investment that will give me enough passive income to get out of the rat race and onto the fast track ?
A. If, through the loan, you are able to purchase enough passive income to get out of the rat race- congratulations ! Remember you must increase your expenses to include the amount you have to pay in loan payments before you calculate whether your new passive income exceeds your expenses.

Q. Some expenses in "doodads" are $75 (sunglasses), but there are no $5 bills in the game. Am I missing $5 bills ?
A. No, you are not missing any of your currency. This was a misprint on the card. You should just round up the expense for the sunglasses to $80.

Q. When a market card is drawn that says "anyone can sell at this price" does that mean I can sell all my holdings that match the description on the card, or only one ?
A. You may sell any or all of your holdings that match the description on the card.

Q. If I am downsized can I sell stock or real estate while I am missing my turns, when the cards are drawn by other players ?
A. Yes. You may still take advantage of the opportunities presented by cards drawn by other players as long as the card specifies "anyone can...".

Q. When I am downsized, why can’t I still receive my passive income even though I am missing my turns ?
A. When you are downsized, you are correct that you lose your earned income but not your passive income. However, you also continue to have to pay your monthly expenses. This means that you would owe the bank money (the amount your expenses exceed your passive income) for each turn until you find a new job. If you are one of the higher paid professions this could force you into bankruptcy early in the game. For ease of play we chose to have you miss two turns entirely instead of having to calculate the amount due the bank for each turn or face bankruptcy early in the game.

Q. When paying off debt do I have to do it before or after I roll the die ?
A. Either is acceptable.

Q. Why don’t you reduce the mortgage liability on your home as you make monthly payments ?
A. In real life, you would in fact do this. For ease of play in the game, we do not adjust the principal amount of the mortgage. Most mortgages are long term in nature and, for purposes of this game, a level monthly mortgage payment is assumed.

Q. Since my monthly expenses include credit card payments, shouldn’t I reduce the liability as each payment is made (at each pay day) ?
A. Most people make monthly payments on their credit cards, but also charge new amounts on the credit card as well. Therefore, the game assumes a steady level of credit card debt that does not fluctuate from month to month. (Unless you choose to pay off the entire liability and therefore you would eliminate the monthly payment as well, in essence you have paid off your entire credit card bill and cut up your credit card so no new charges may be made.)

Q. If I am trying to reduce my monthly expenses by paying off my liabilities, may I pay them off in pieces ?
A. We suggest that the entire amount of the liability (eg. Credit card debt) be paid off and then you can erase the entire related credit card expense. Your total expenses would then be reduced by the amount of your monthly credit card expense payment.

Additional FAQ

Changing Rules

This is a non-exhaustive list of rules you can change. Feel free to pick any of the following ones and try them. Most of these ideas have been posted on richdad.com forums.

Sources :

 House Rules : http://www7.richdad.com/forums/thread.jsp?forum=38&thread=427&message=1087&q=rules#1087
 Changing the rules : http://www7.richdad.com/forums/thread.jsp?forum=38&thread=17975&message=123350&q=rules#123350
 Additional Rules in CF101
http://www7.richdad.com/forums/thread.jsp?forum=38&thread=853&message=2863&q=rules#2863

Different rules

 Babies

Unlimited babies. It might represent not new babies but new regular expenses you have not been thinking about.
After having 3 babies, make it roll two dice.

 Stocks

Remove all $1 stock cards.

 Players

• Players have all the same job (for example all Doctors)
• Play as a couple (double the number of players)
• A person who does not call out his paycheck, and then the next person rolls, loses it.

• Determine your income, expenses, assets/liabilities by rolling dice

• Make the game simultaneous. If people land on the same type of field ( for example : deals), have these people receive the same card deal, roll dice to see what order they pick their respective cards, or come up with an auction scheme for these situations.

 Opportunity Cards

• Deals can be bought at 100$ so the game is less competitive.

 Objectives

• Buy 3 dreams on 50000 profit in the Fast-Track.

 Making the game more realistic

• Payday

People often offer themselves an extra at payday. Pick a doodad card when you pass or land on payday.
Stocks

Roll dice to determine the price of a stock. Find out your own combination.

• Loans

No loans to buy stocks, CDs, mutual funds. In real world, no bank would give a loan to buy a paper asset.

Loans limited to 10 times your cashflow. In real world, the money you borrow depends on your income (and therefore your cashflow). This number can be changed.
Deals

To mix big and small deals cards all together.

Singaporean style

An additional rule that might make the game more challenging is to clear off all liabilities in the balance sheet or to pay off all Real Estates and Business loans, before moving into the Fast-Track.

Prices/Where to buy ?

The game is quite expensive in itself. I recommend you first to play with friends, to rent it at a shop or to play it at a cashflow 101 club (there are many clubs around the world) before investing in it.

On RichDad.com, CF101 is quoted as USD $195 and CF202 at USD $95. These are the reference prices. You can find them cheaper on the Internet. Sometimes it is worth to buy it overseas. You can save a lot. Check for ebay for bargains (http://www.ebay.com). Look preferably at packages that include both versions (CF101 + CF202). They will save you money.

Check latest prices, they might have changed in the meantime.

Shops in USA
 Success Broker (http://www.successbroker.com)
 Success Success (http://www.successsuccess.com)
 Enrichment Unlimited (http://www.enrichmentunlimited.com)
 Holmes Resources (http://www.ebaystores.com/holmesresources)
 Cashflow Store (http://shop.store.yahoo.com/cashflow-store/ind.html)
 Cashflow Store Bis : http://www.store.yahoo.com/cashflow-store/casin101byro.html

Shops in Singapore
It is definitely quite expensive in Singapore. It’s better buying from overseas.

 The Success Shop (Golden Shoes Market) - CF101 SGD $338
 RichDadAsia.com : info@richdadasia.com : CF101 SGD $300
 The Inspirational Junction (http://www.ij.com.sg) : CF101 SGD $338
Look also for sellers in Malaysia, it might be cheaper to buy there.

Links

Main website RichDad.com : http://www.richdad.com

Some articles related to the game

 The Zen Cash Flow 101 by Brendan Delumpa : http://moneymatters.iarchitec.com/zoc.htm
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=6510

 Cash Flow Game Board and Game Card Spreadsheet : http://moneymatters.iarchitec.com/cfgameboard.htm

 Cashflow 101 FAQ in Japanese : http://www1.plala.or.jp/AGL/cashflow/faq/faq.htm