Pay Day (1974)

Pay Day

“Pay Day” is a board game originally released by Parker Brothers in 1974, designed by Paul J. Gruen and his brother-in-law Charles C. Bailey. The game was Gruen’s most successful creation, outselling Monopoly in its first production year. The game is currently marketed by Winning Moves Games USA.

Why is Pay Day Popular?

Pay Day is a popular board game because it simulates money management in a simple and engaging way, making it suitable for players of various ages and skill levels. The game has been released in various editions since its inception, with the 1974 version being the most notable.

Game Components of Pay Day

The Game Components of Pay Day include:
– Game board resembling a calendar month
– Play money in $500, $150, $20, $10, and $5 denominations
– Blue Mail cards
– Pink Deal cards
– Four pawns
– One die
– Savings and loans scorecards
– Printed instructions

Game Setup of Pay Day

To set up the game, each player is given $325. Players roll the die and move their pawns according to the number indicated on the die. The game board is designed to look like a monthly calendar, with 31 days in a Pay Day month.

Gameplay Mechanics of Pay Day

During the game, players accumulate bills and expenses to pay, along with collecting their monthly wage on “pay day” at the end of the month. Players can draw Mail cards, which feature lottery wins, bills, postcards, and junk mail, and Deal cards, which offer items for purchase such as a powerboat, diamond ring, tractor, stereo, and other goods. Players can also borrow money for Deals from the bank or from fellow players. The game ends once all players have made it through the month, which takes about 30 minutes.

Game Objective of Pay Day

The objective of the game is to be the player with the most money at the end of the last month of play.

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