Don't Break The Budget is a wacky budgeting game that combines the fun of an interactive card game with learning crucial money management skills. The goal is to successfully build your budget before anyone else does.
Budget breakers, lost jobs, or unexpected expenses are just some of the roadblocks you can place on your opponents. Whether played in a classroom, during family game night, or among friends, this is a competitive and fun way to learn key principles for creating a budget. This game can be played by two, three, or four players at a time. Card deck: 54 cards. Game duration: 20 minutes. Ages 8+
Available in a braille version.
The goal is to build a balanced budget by allocating all your income among your financial priorities, ensuring that every dollar of your income is accounted for in your budget and your expenses do not exceed your income. Priorities matter, so build your budget in order of priorities A through E. The first person to accomplish this wins the round. The first player to win two rounds wins the game.
Reviews
A review from a family with a blind daughter: “Our family has the print & braille version of ‘Don't Break the Budget’ and we have been playing alongside our 10-year-old who is blind. We all liked it! We have played the game with and without an abacus to keep track of the players’ current amounts remaining in their budgets. We are excited to share this game with her school and friends, where she can play while learning financial literacy principles alongside her peers. This deck will provide a balance to any home, school, or homeschool game library.”
A high school teacher provided this review: “My students played this game, and it was engaging. On the first round, we spent a bit of time trying to understand the game rules. I say 15 minutes. On the 2nd round, the game turned green, and it became competitive and loud. This card game allows participants to speak financial language, see financial events from a fun perspective, practice making financial decisions, and more. Great for Accounting, Finance, and Math skills. And fitting for family gathering!!”
- The deck consists of Income cards, Windfall cards, Life Happens cards, and Financial Priority cards, which are prioritized by letter: (A) Giving, (B) Savings, (C) Essential Expenses, (D) Important Expenses, and (E) Additional Expenses. Shuffle all cards and deal five cards face down to each player. The remaining cards are placed face down as the draw pile and the top card is turned face up next to it to start the discard pile. The player to the left of the dealer goes first, and the play continues clockwise.
[Continued: Click here to open the full instructions in a new tab or window.]
Sample Cards
For a description of the game cards for Braille users, click here.
Use your mouse or click on the arrow icons on the sides of the sample cards to scroll horizontally through the different sample cards.
All cards © Copyright 2024 Don't Break The Budget (DBTB)
While supplies last, we will ship orders as they come in. To order, please click on the “Buy Now” button or scan the QR code to the right to make a payment securely via GoDaddy Payments. The cost is $29.95 per game deck. If shipped to a Utah address, add $2.23 sales tax per deck. There is no charge for shipping in the continental USA. No sales tax applies to orders sent to non-Utah addresses. To inquire about the cost of shipping outside the continental USA, send an email to info@dontbreakthebudget.com.
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You can download worksheets to assist you track your budget as you play the game.
- To download a single form, click here.
- For four forms per page, click here.
For more information, send an e-mail message to info@dontbreakthebudget.com or sign up for updates and announcements relating to the Don't Break the Budget game, using this form (which can also be used to unsubscribe):
I express my heartfelt gratitude to my amazing wife, Celeste, for her unwavering support and invaluable editing contributions. Special thanks to my daughter Eva for her outstanding design work on the card backs, and to my son Spencer for creating many of the captivating pictures on the front of the cards and his design of this website. A huge shoutout to my entire family — Celeste, Eva, Spencer, Cidlali, and Isaias — for their tireless testing efforts, ensuring the game's playability. I am profoundly grateful for their dedication. I also extend my appreciation to the Utah Small Business Development Center for playing a crucial role in testing, consulting, and refining the game, significantly shaping its development. Lastly, a big thank you to AlphaGraphics for their artistic touch. Thank you all for your invaluable contributions and support.
Warm regards, Adam Rushforth, Game Author
© Copyright 2025 Don't Break The Budget (DBTB)
All rights reserved.
Updated September 1, 2025
