Official CASHFLOW Rules

Last Updated on July 20, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

CASHFLOW is an educational board game created by Robert Kiyosaki, designed to teach young players about personal finance, investing, and cash flow management. Players navigate the game with the goal of achieving financial independence by building passive income that exceeds their expenses. Here’s how to play:

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How to Play CASHFLOW

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Objective

The main objective of CASHFLOW is to get out of the “Rat Race” (the inner loop of the board) by increasing your passive income to surpass your total expenses. Once out of the Rat Race, you move to the “Fast Track” (the outer loop) where the goal is to achieve your dream or accumulate $50,000 in monthly cash flow.

QUICK START GUIDE

1. Choose a Banker to manage money transactions.
2. Set up the card decks — place Opportunity (Small & Big Deals), Market, and Doodads cards on the board.
3. Give each player a Game Card (includes Income Statement and Balance Sheet).
4. Deal each player a Profession Card and have them fill in the financial details onto their Game Card exactly as shown.
5. Assign Auditors — the player to your right will double-check your math.
6. Banker gives each player their starting cash (Monthly Cash Flow + Savings). Erase the savings from your sheet once received.
7. Pick a color and take matching Rat, Cheese, and tokens.
8. Place your Cheese on your chosen Dream (pink space) on the Fast Track.
9. Put your Rat on the “Start Here” space in the center Rat Race circle.
10. Roll a die to determine who goes first.
11. Begin playing CASHFLOW®!

Key Objectives:

• Escape the Rat Race by increasing your Passive Income above your Total Expenses.
• Build Passive Income through smart investing.
• Always read cards aloud — each may affect everyone’s finances.
• Be cautious to avoid Bankruptcy.
• Adapt your strategy as the market evolves.

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HOW TO PLAY

Part I: The Rat Race

• This is the inner circle of the board — representing everyday life.
• Your goal here is to purchase investments that provide positive cash flow until your Passive Income exceeds Total Expenses.
• Once achieved, you can enter the Fast Track.

Part II: The Fast Track

• This is the outer ring of the board — where the wealthy play.
• Here you aim to:
  1. Buy your Dream (pink space).
  2. Grow your Fast Track Income by acquiring businesses (green spaces).

How to Win

• Be the first player to:
  1. Buy your Dream on the Fast Track. OR
  2. Accumulate $50,000 in Fast Track income.

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GAME SETUP (DETAILED)

1. Banker Duties: Choose a math-savvy player. If the banker is also a player, they must keep their game money separate from the bank’s funds.
2. Prepare Card Decks: Shuffle and place each deck (Opportunity, Market, Doodads) in its designated area.
3. Distribute Game Materials:
   • Each player gets a Game Card (Income Statement/Balance Sheet).
   • Review the sheet — you’ll use the Rat Race side to begin.
4. Assign Professions:
   • Shuffle Profession Cards and deal one face-down to each player.
   • Copy the exact financial info to your Game Card.
   • All players start with: no loans, no payments, and no children.
5. Auditors:
   • Your right-hand neighbor reviews your calculations when changes are made.
6. Bank Disbursements:
   • Give each player:
     • Their Monthly Cash Flow (income – expenses).
     • Their Savings (as listed). Once received, erase it from the sheet.

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STARTING THE GAME

1. Pick a color set — Rat, Cheese, and tokens.
2. Place your Cheese on a Dream (pink Fast Track space).
3. Place your Rat on “Start Here” in the Rat Race.
4. Everyone rolls a die; highest number goes first. Play moves clockwise.

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RAT RACE SPACE DESCRIPTIONS

PAY CHECK

• When passing or landing here, collect your Monthly Cash Flow.
• If it’s negative, pay that amount to the bank.
• Tip: Ask for your paycheck — if you forget, you lose it!

OPPORTUNITY (Investment Cards)

• Choose either:
  • Small Deal (≤$5,000)
  • Big Deal (≥$6,000)
• Read cards aloud. Some allow other players to buy/sell assets too.
• Deals can’t be sold to players unless stated. Then, it’s the option to buy that’s sold.
• Players can’t partner to invest.

THE MARKET

• Draw a card and read it out loud.
• If it matches an asset you hold, you may sell at the card’s price.
• Bank pays you and you update your Game Card.

DOODADS

• Draw a Doodad card and follow the instructions. These are required expenses.
• You may take a loan to cover them if needed.

CHARITY (Optional)

• Donate 10% of Total Income to gain 2 dice rolls for your next 3 turns.

BABY

• Add a child (max 3):
  1. Increase child count.
  2. Update Child Expenses and Total Expenses.
  3. Reduce Monthly Cash Flow.
  4. Audit your Game Card.

DOWNSIZED

• Pay Total Expenses to the Bank.
• Miss 2 turns.
• Ends Charity bonus early.

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RAT RACE PLAYER OPTIONS

BANK LOANS

• Borrow in $1,000 units at 10% monthly interest.
• For every $1,000 loaned:
  • Add $100 to your monthly expenses.
  • Update liabilities, total expenses, and cash flow.
  • Audit your Game Card.

PAYING OFF DEBT

• You may fully pay off any debt (except bank loans, which can be paid in parts).
• Update Game Card:
  • Remove debt from liabilities.
  • Adjust related expenses and cash flow.
  • Audit.

BANKRUPTCY

• Occurs if you can’t pay your negative cash flow.
• Sell assets to the Bank at ½ Down Payment value.
• If you’re still negative:
  • Remove ½ of car loans, credit cards, and retail debt.
  • Home and School loans remain.
  • Still negative? You’re eliminated from the game.

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THE FAST TRACK

Entering the Fast Track

• At the start of any turn, if Passive Income > Total Expenses:
  1. Flip your Game Card to the Fast Track side.
  2. Fill out:
     • Name & Auditor
     • Buyout = 100× Passive Income (initial Fast Track income)
     • Set new income goal = Buyout + $50,000
     • Record income in income tracker
  3. Place your Rat on “Enter Here”.
  4. Now roll 2 dice per turn.

Fast Track Notes:

• You can no longer use Opportunity, Market, or Doodads cards.
• Bank loans are not allowed.

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FAST TRACK SPACES

CASHFLOW® DAY

• Every time you land or pass, collect your full Fast Track Income from the Bank.

BUSINESS INVESTMENTS (Green Spaces)

• Land here to buy businesses:
  • Pay the listed price.
  • Place a token on that space.
  • Record income & recalculate total income.
  • Audit.

DREAMS

• Land on your chosen Dream to purchase it (if you have the cash).
• Others may land on your Dream and double its price for you.
• Each additional player landing increases the Dream’s price by 100%.

CHARITY

• Still optional. Donate once and choose to roll 1, 2, or 3 dice on future turns.

TAX AUDIT

• Pay 50% of your current cash to the Bank.

DIVORCE

• Lose all your cash.

LAWSUIT

Pay 50% of your current cash to the Bank.

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Bond as a family for a game night that’s not just fun, but also educational, especially for your kids who will need the skills they will learn in this game for their futures!