Game of Life
Welcome!
Have someone read the instructions out loud to the rest of your group each turn as you go. You’ll each be playing individually, but will go through the game together.
Basic Rules
This game consists of 10 turns. On each turn, you will receive income from your job, and you’ll pay out your living expenses. These numbers are fixed each turn. Afterwards, you’ll have the chance to use any leftover money in 4 different ways, which are shown below:
Bonds: Every 4 tokens you invest in bonds produces 1 token of interest. Investing fewer than 4 tokens in bonds produces nothing.
Stocks: Stocks have higher risk, but higher reward than bonds. Each token you invest could double, but you could also lose everything you invest. On average, stocks produce more than bonds.
Rental Home: You can purchase a rental home for 20 tokens. On each subsequent turn, you will receive 10 tokens of income from your tenants.
Giving: You may give away tokens on any turn as you see fit.
You can always see how much money you have in your bank account. This is your pool of money to use as you see fit. At the beginning of the game, you should start with 2 tokens in your bank.
On any given turn, you don’t have to use all of your money in one of the 4 ways listed above. Just leave any remainder in the bank.
It may be tempting to discuss how you are using your money each turn, but try to save any discussion for the end.
Ready?
You will find a few discussion questions at the end to help you reflect on the experience. Let’s begin.
Click Start when everyone is ready.
Turn 1 of 10
You and your newlywed spouse have a modest income of 4 tokens.
Click Next below to collect your income.
Turn 1 of 10
Not too shabby, but nothing special. Considering you’re just getting on your feet, your expenses and bills are also 4 tokens.
Click Next to pay your bills.
Turn 1 of 10
Now, take a second and decide if you would like to use any funds in your bank towards the options below.
When everyone is finished, click Next.
Turn 1 Payout
For every 4 tokens you had in bonds, you received one more (remember, less than 4 produces nothing).
Stocks held even this turn, no losses, no gains.
Click Next to return any investments to your bank.
Turn 2 of 10
Congratulations, you got a 25% raise! This turn, you get 5 tokens.
Click Next to collect your income.
Turn 2 of 10
Your expenses are roughly the same. Pay 4 tokens.
Click Next to pay your bills.
Turn 2 of 10
Now, take a second and decide if you would like to use any funds in your bank towards the options below.
When everyone is finished, click Next.
Turn 2 Payout
For every 4 tokens in bonds, you received 1 additional token.
It was a good turn for stocks! For every token in stocks, you received 1 more.
For each rental property you own, you received 10 tokens.
Click Next to return any investments to your bank.
Turn 3 of 10
No major changes in income or expenses this turn. You receive 5 tokens and pay back another 4.
Click Next to collect your income and pay your bills.
Turn 3 of 10
Now, take a second and decide if you would like to use any funds in your bank towards the options below.
When everyone is finished, click Next.
Turn 3 Payout
For every 4 tokens in bonds, you received 1 additional token.
It was another good turn for stocks! For every token in stocks, you received 1 more.
For each rental property, you received 10 tokens.
Click Next to return any investments to your bank.
Turn 4 of 10
You’ve made it to middle management! Another raise! You receive 6 tokens this turn.
Click Next to collect your income.
Turn 4 of 10
You guessed it, pay back another 4 for bills and expenses.
Click Next to pay your bills.
Turn 4 of 10
Now, take a second and decide if you would like to use any funds in your bank towards the options below.
When everyone is finished, click Next.
Turn 4 Payout
For every 4 tokens in bonds, you received 1 additional token.
Very rough market this turn. Unfortunately, all tokens in stocks were lost.
For each rental property, you received 10 tokens.
Click Next to return any investments to your bank.
Turn 5 of 10
You might not believe it, but you earned another raise, 7 tokens! What a star!
Click Next to collect your income.
Turn 5 of 10
The cost of living has also had a bump. Pay 5 tokens back.
Click Next to pay your bills.
Turn 5 of 10
Now, take a second and decide if you would like to use any funds in your bank towards the options below.
When everyone is finished, click Next.
Turn 5 Payout
For every 4 tokens in bonds, you received 1 additional token.
The market remained choppy, but you came out on top! For every token in stocks, you received 1 more.
For each rental property, you received 10 tokens.
Click Next to return any investments to your bank.
Turn 6 of 10
There’s no stopping you now. As a new executive, you earn a whopping 8 tokens.
Click Nexts to collect your income.
Turn 6 of 10
Don’t forget to pay those bills! Another 5 tokens.
Click Next to pay your bills.
Turn 6 of 10
Now, take a second and decide if you would like to use any funds in your bank towards the options below.
When everyone is finished, click Next.
Turn 6 Payout
For every 4 tokens in bonds, you received 1 additional token.
Another good turn for risk takers! For every token in stocks, you received 1 more.
For each rental property, you received 10 tokens.
Click Next to return any investments to your bank.
Turn 7 of 10
Things have been going pretty well recently. It’s hard to complain!
One morning, while out on a jog enjoying some fresh air, you began to feel some chest pain. You decide to head to the hospital to get checked out, but the pain starts to get far worse.
It turns out you suffered a massive heart attack. You have an excellent medical team, but despite all their efforts, you unfortunately pass 3 days later with your family at your side.
That’s the end for now. We will debrief together at the More Than Words gathering on Jan. 12. Feel free to write down some of your initial thoughts. See you there!
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PROPERTIES
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TOTAL GIVEN
Reference
Basic Rules
This game consists of 10 turns. On each turn, you will receive income from your job, and you’ll pay out your living expenses. These numbers are fixed each turn. Afterwards, you’ll have the chance to use any leftover money in 4 different ways, which are shown below:
Bonds: Every 4 tokens you invest in bonds produces 1 token of interest. Investing fewer than 4 tokens in bonds produces nothing.
Stocks: Stocks have higher risk, but higher reward than bonds. Each token you invest could double, but you could also lose everything you invest. On average, stocks produce more than bonds.
Rental Home: You can purchase a rental home for 20 tokens. On each subsequent turn, you will receive 10 tokens of income from your tenants.
Giving: You may give away tokens on any turn as you see fit.
You can always see how much money you have in your bank account. This is your pool of money to use as you see fit. At the beginning of the game, you should start with 2 tokens in your bank.
On any given turn, you don’t have to use all of your money in one of the 4 ways listed above. Just leave any remainder in the bank.
It may be tempting to discuss how you are using your money each turn, but try to save any discussion for the end.