Taxila Business School
Player Manual: Rat Race & Fast Track 3D
Welcome to the ultimate financial literacy game! You're about to embark
on a journey to escape the daily grind and achieve financial freedom. This
isn't just a game of luck; it's a game of strategy, smart decisions, and
understanding how money really works.
The Goal of the Game
The game is played in two phases:
1. The Rat Race: This is the small, inner loop on the board, representing
the typical 9-to-5 struggle. Your first goal is to build up your passive
income from assets until it's greater than your total expenses. Once
you achieve this, you escape the Rat Race.
2. The Fast Track: This is the outer loop of the board, where the wealthy
play. Once you escape the Rat Race, you enter the Fast Track. Your final
goal is to land on and purchase your "Dream" to win the game!
Getting Started
1. Choose Players: The game can be played with 1 to 4 players.
2. Select a Profession: Each player chooses a profession. Your profession
determines your starting Salary, Assets, Liabilities, and Cash on
Hand. Pay close attention to your starting Cash Flow (Total Income -
Total Expenses), as this is the money you receive every time you pass or
land on "Pay Day."
How to Play: The Rat Race
On your turn, you'll roll the dice and move your pawn around the board.
Each square you land on has a different financial consequence.
Understanding the Board Squares:
Pay Day: The best square on the board! You receive your monthly Cash
Flow. If your cash goes negative after this, you're bankrupt!
Opportunity: This is where you build wealth. You'll get a chance to buy
an asset like stocks, a rental property, or a business.
o Taking a Loan for Assets: If you don't have enough cash, the game
may offer you a loan to cover the cost. Using debt to buy an income-
generating asset is a powerful financial strategy!
Market: These cards represent real-world economic events that can
affect all players, creating opportunities or challenges.
Doodad: A mandatory expense for a non-essential item. This shows how
small, unplanned purchases can impact your finances.
Baby: Congratulations! Your family is growing, but so are your expenses.
Your monthly costs will permanently increase.
Downsized: You lose your job! You must pay one month's worth of your
total expenses and lose your next two turns.
Charity: You have the option to donate 10% of your total income. If you
do, you can roll two dice on your next three turns, helping you navigate
the board faster.
Managing Your Money
Taking a Loan: You can take a bank loan at any time. The maximum you
can borrow is 20 times your Salary. You can take multiple loans up to
this limit. The loan comes with a 12% annual interest rate, and the
modal will show you your estimated monthly payment (EMI) before you
confirm.
Repaying Debt: Use the "Repay Loan" button to pay back your bank
loans in amounts you choose. Use the "Pay Off Other Debts" button to
clear liabilities from your profession card, which will increase your monthly
cash flow.
Bankruptcy: The Ultimate Risk
If your Cash on Hand drops below zero and you can't cover the debt, you
are declared bankrupt.
If you have assets: You'll be forced to sell them at 80% of their original
value until your cash is positive again. If you succeed, you're saved!
If you have no assets (or not enough to cover the debt): You're out
of the game!
Key Learnings from the Game
This game is a fun simulation of real-world financial principles. Pay
attention to these concepts as you play:
1. The Power of Passive Income: The only way to win is to have your
money work for you. Salary alone will never let you escape the Rat Race.
Focus on acquiring assets that generate passive income.
2. Assets vs. Liabilities: An asset puts money into your pocket (e.g., a
rental property with positive cash flow). A liability takes money out of
your pocket (e.g., a mortgage, a car loan). Your goal is to acquire assets,
not liabilities.
3. The Importance of Cash Flow: Your monthly cash flow is your lifeline.
Increasing it by buying assets and paying down debt is the key to
accelerating your journey to financial freedom.
4. Good Debt vs. Bad Debt: Don't be afraid of debt if it's "good debt."
Taking a loan to buy an asset that generates more passive income than
the loan's monthly payment is a smart financial move. "Bad debt" is
borrowing money for things that don't generate income.
Good luck, and may your financial decisions lead you to the Fast Track!
