What Payday Is
Payday is a classic family board game about managing money through a series of months. Each trip around the board is one month. Along the way you pay bills, make deals and wait for the pay day at the end of the month. It has been produced by Parker Brothers and later by Hasbro, and it has been reissued in different editions over the years, including newer versions in the late 2010s.
Because editions differ in money amounts, card text and some spaces, this article describes the general structure and points you to your own rulebook for exact figures.
What Is in the Box
Most editions include:
- A board shaped like a monthly calendar, with spaces for each day
- Playing pieces
- Mail cards (bills and bonuses)
- Deal cards (items you can buy and sell)
- Play money
- A die
- Loan and bookkeeping items
The Idea of the Game
Players choose how many months the game will last before they start. Each month, you move around the board and land on spaces that trigger events. At the end of the month you reach the Payday space, where you collect your salary and pay what you owe.
Spaces You Will See
Typical spaces include:
- Mail Draw a mail card, which could be a bill to pay or something that helps you.
- Deal Draw a deal card, which lets you buy an item to sell later.
- Buyer Sell a deal card you are holding for a profit.
- Lottery or sweepstakes Chance-based spaces that can reward you.
- Payday Collect your pay and settle your loans.
The names and some details can differ between editions.
How Money Works
- Each player starts with an amount of money set by the rulebook. The exact figure depends on the edition, so check the one in your box.
- You can borrow money in the form of loans, and these normally have to be paid back, with interest, at the end of the month.
- Bills from mail cards reduce your cash. Deals can increase it if you sell at the right time.
Winning
After the agreed number of months, the player with the most money wins. This is usually calculated after loans are paid.
How Long Does a Game Take?
The number of months you choose controls the length. A one-month game is quick, while a longer game takes more time. Players commonly agree on a length at the start based on the time they have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the rules of the Payday game?
In short: choose a number of months, move around the calendar board, resolve the spaces you land on, pay bills, take loans if you need to and collect pay at month’s end. The richest player after the final month wins.
Do they still make the Payday board game?
Hasbro has reissued Payday more than once, so new copies have been available in recent years. Availability depends on your country and retailer, and older editions are often found second-hand.
Is Payday 2 okay for a 12-year-old?
Payday 2 is a video game and is unrelated to the board game. It carries a Mature rating from the ESRB, so parents should check the rating and a reliable review before deciding. The board game is a family money game with no connection to it.
How much money do you start with?
It depends on the edition. Look in the rulebook inside your box for the starting amount, since this has changed between versions.
Tips
- Keep a banker for fairness, especially with younger players.
- Do not borrow more than you can repay at the end of the month.
- Only buy deals you expect to sell quickly.
Other Games to Try
For a different kind of family game, see Oregon Trail, or for a team party game, see Pictionary.