Any experts in the game of Life out there?

Question

I played Life as a child and just brought the game for my own children. Either I've gotten a lot slower or the game has gotten a lot harder. Things that are hard to understand:

1. When choosing either "career" or "college", its implied that going to college costs more in the short-term ($100,000 loan) but will pay off in the long-term. Yet the "salary" cards are confusing....only two careers require degrees and the salary cards might pay $20,000 to a doctor and $80,000 to a policeman (as happened in the game last night). It appears almost *easier* to make more as a career vs. college person.

2. The LIfe cards are confusing as well. My understanding is that you don't look at these cards until retirement but, if you don't get the money now, how do you pay off the large loans, pay a house, etc? The initial money that the banker gives ($10,000) doesn't feel sufficient. Am I missing some strategy here? (paydays are hard to hit).

any advice appreciated!

Answer 1

When choosing to go either to college or a career you gamble.  If you skip college you don't get the loans but you only get to pick one card for your salary and what you get is what you get.  If you go to college you get to pick three salary cards and take the highest salary.  So if you skip college you could get lucky and get 100,000 a year salary but you can also get stuck with the 20,000.  If you go to college and pick three salary cards the worse you could end up with is the 40,000 and chances are you'll pick at least one high salary card.  

The loans for college and your house you can pay off whenever you want.  You can wait until the end of the game and by then you should have plenty.  And yes, you get your salary every time you pass the green Payday, not just when you land on it.  That would be absurd.  If you collect your 40,000 to 100,000 for every payday you should end up a millionaire by the end of the game.  One or two paydays should pay for your house and your college loans.

Answer 2

your supposed to pay for the house right away or take out a loan, you get paid just for passing a payday not just for landing on them

Answer 3

1. its just the thing you pick its luck and the color of your  salary card has to be one one the two colors on your job card get it?

2.you pay it off in the end you subtract it from your total at the end

p.s. try the game of life twists and turns a lot less confuses it counts up the money for you