· Money Moves · Saving to a goal
Down Payment Dash: a free game about saving for a house
Save 20% before prices climb out of reach. Split each month's pay between needs, wants and savings.
What is Down Payment Dash?
You want 20% of a house price saved before the deadline, and the price keeps climbing. Each month, split your spare pay between savings and a bit of fun, while Month Cards shake the plan.
Down Payment Dash is a free money game about saving to a goal. You want 20% of a house price before the deadline, and the price keeps rising.
Each month you choose how much of your spare pay to save. Save too little and the goal runs away; save everything for too long and you splurge.
At a glance
- Category
- Money Moves
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Play time
- 4–6 min
- Price
- Free, in your browser, sign-up optional
How to play
- Split
- Choose the share of spare pay that goes to savings each month.
- Balance
- Three months in a row saving 90% or more and you splurge: keep a small wants budget.
- Three levels
- Beginner, Intermediate or Expert, picked before you play: the content and the clock change, and each level keeps its own best score.
- Coins
- Example numbers in plain fictional coins, made up for the game. Not financial advice.
Scoring
500 for reaching 20% down, plus 60 per month to spare; otherwise points for how close you got.
Three months in a row saving 90% or more triggers a splurge.
What it trains
- Saving to a goal
- Turning a big number into a monthly habit.
- Balance
- A steady plan beats an all-or-nothing one.
Strategy and tips
- Pay yourself first
- Decide the savings share before spending, and keep it steady.
- Leave some fun
- A small wants budget keeps the plan alive for months.
- Watch the target
- If prices rise, 20% rises too. Check the gap, not only your balance.
Why play Down Payment Dash?
Big goals are reached by steady monthly habits. The game turns a far-away number into a monthly decision you can practise.
Frequently asked questions
Is Down Payment Dash free?
Yes. It is free and runs in your browser, with no download. Signing up is optional.
Is this financial advice?
No. Every number is an example in fictional coins, made up for the game. It teaches the ideas; for real decisions, look at your own situation and local rules, or ask a qualified adviser.
Are there levels?
Yes: Beginner, Intermediate and Expert. The numbers, the hints and the clock change, and each level keeps its own best score.