You begin the game with a $100 bill. There are tokens face-down in the center. The object is to collect all 6 tokens, which must be purchased for anywhere from $5-30 each AND have $100 in savings in order to win. You can either shake the dice and earn money (a 1 is $10, all others are face value) OR choose a token. There are also 4 "pay a bill" tokens--2 each of SICK or POTHOLE. If you've purchased either the Medical Care token or Paid Your Taxes token, you won't have to pay the bill. The only other rule in the game is that whenever able, you must trade your money for the biggest bill you can. So when you've collected 5 ones, you must trade them for a 5. Two fives must be traded for a ten. Etc. It's great for helping kids learn to make change and learn what each bill is worth, plus the idea of budgeting (to buy your tokens) and saving (the $100 to win at the end).
I already see Sunshine knowing how much change he'll get from a $20 to pay for a $15 token, and understanding that if he has 5 ones and a 5 and a 10, he can trade up for a $20. He's also checking for himself what bills he'll collect from his roll. Upon shaking a 4 and a 3, he recounts to tell me that for the roll of 7, he needs a five and 2 ones.
Hurray for simplicity and fun in a board game! (and no lottery tokens! Boo to PayDay!)
