I moved my sim family to 1 Torendi Tower Penthouse (at a cost of 456,000 simoleons). After their first week, the bills of 20k(ish) brought them down to only 1,000 simoleons in liquid funds. I desperately need to make sure they raise the money to afford bills each week and it doesn't look like career salary alone will cut it. I'm seeking advice on the best way to earn some money quickly with what skills they have available. They have 3 children and 1 toddler to care for as well, which is really cutting into available earning time.Miko works in the charity branch of the political career, is at career level 5, and has High Charisma and singing, and middling painting skill. Abel works in the Tech career and is a pro-gamer (top of career ladder), he has maxed video gaming, cooking, handiness, logic, programming and rocket science skills.I'm having Abel work on hacking and then will do some programming. Just wondering if there's something I'm missing as a better money earner with what is available to them. Painting is pretty good normally, but I use a mod that makes painting take longer because it's pretty much 'too good' for money normally (imo). Is there a way for Miko to earn money just with Charisma?Heh, i'm not used to being in this dilemma...I don't normally let my established (this is 2nd generation household) sims get this tapped out, but they needed larger digs because of all the kids.

There is a reward trait (don't know the English word, modest or frugal) that helps a lot against high bills.

Do they have things in the household inventory to delete? That will bring bills down. Do you have a place with all crops available for harvest? Harvest then sell.

"Stormkeep;c-16864365" wrote:sweet, I get that trait often (it's frugal)...but had actually forgotten it for this generation. I don't tend to get any of the super expensive traits (the ones that eliminate needs) because they feel too cheaty...so my main sim in the household has enough aspiration points for it. Thank you for the reminder @alanmichael1!I also have the trait from aspiration that gives interest on funds available, it's what I am used to living on...sadly interest on 0 is 0....Do any of them have time to go hunting for collectibles? That will bring in a little extra cash. And what is this trait of which you speak? I've never heard of it! :o

Sell harvest, get collectables, buy a woodworking table and build the handiness skill, baking, painting...

@loubyloulou, it is one of the traits you can buy with aspiration points. Pretty sure the name is "Frugal" It reduces the household bills....I literally always get it, can't believe I forgot about it entirely in the current generation. I didn't buy it when the heir was still living with his parents like I normally do, and then it just slipped my mind. Also, good tip on the collectibles, Miko can dash out to do some of that in the city while Abel works on his hacking/programming. I'm trying to do things where both of them are generating revenue at the same time (rather than someone being on a different lot being useless). Snow globes and posters have sell value though!@playersinger2010 Afraid to spend money on the woodworking table, can you estimate the return on investment speed? Abel has good handiness, but is already doing programming/hacking, will the woodworking table be higher margins?

Desperate for cash! | EA Forums

DocTxt
6 years ago
@Stormkeep yes it stacks up. I dont have the % by hand, but it really pays out.
For the thermostat a simple trick I use: I make always a hot and cold weather home outfit. Warm Socks and Sweaters for winter, light clothing for Summer, maybe a bikini or something and let them wear at home.

I dont now, I have a "garden" on that lot,so I built a pool and a kiddy pool to cool my Sims down. I guess ice cream does work too... But I'm not yet sure about pool and ice cream, haven't played the last week and I can't remember :D
JaggidEdje
6 years ago
@simsandra thanks for the additional tips. I do have a pool and kiddie pool and already have outfits like you suggested set up..just didn't think to leave the thermostat off too, to save money. Man...so much like RL with my sims tight for money.

Looks like Miko is pregnant again too....3% risky woohoo seemed low when I set it...so money is going to continue to be tight for a while I think. I was counting on her getting some promotions, but pregnancy interferes with work. Note to self, Q-36 serves a real purpose.

I'm turning off the auto-thermostat on your advice right now.

ooh, edit: Pregnancy test said all is clear. *phew* She got sick, so i got scared.
GypsyRozLyn
New Spectator
6 years ago
I have put vaults in many of the richer sims homes and had them put lots of money in them. My criminal sims rob them and have made a ton of money! Not sure if the kleptomaniac trait is needed or not though as mine both have it. They also rob art galleries/museums and sims homes. You may get some text messages from other sims though about stealing stuff and not being wanted at their homes anymore - just try not to get caught!
JaggidEdje
6 years ago
Just wanted to stop in to thank everyone who helped here, again. Monday just arrived in my game and my household was up to 32K in funds. I used a combination of most of the ideas given, with painting (not the club idea though, although it was awesomely creative!), gardening, asking for loans and collections probably being responsible for the bulk of the non-salary funds garnered.

It helped there was a holiday in the week, so my sims collected full salaries for the day off, while still getting to spend active-time doing things to earn other money. Funnily enough, the one thing I was doing before asking for advice was almost no help at all...Abel only finished hacking one database and never did finish the app (yet)....

Bills were only 16k, thanks to the newly acquired Frugal trait, and Miko now has enough aspiration that I can get it for her as well, so the family is in the green with room to spare and the worry for their ability to keep the power on has passed.

So, again, from the bottom of the hearts of the Winters' and their 4 children, thank you so much for your tips and ideas!
ladysweettart
6 years ago
Stormkeep I would also recommend now that you have the money tree to choose the Fabulously Wealthy aspiration, with the money tree (or trees if you can get up to more), it takes no time at all to achieve that aspiration and then you get the interest payment you were referring to.

My current sim is a single mom, doesn't work, and gets all her income from the money tree, interest from gaining the shrewd trait, and child support. If you have MCCC you may be able to get child support as well (I think you mentioned in another thread that Miko already had children from someone else)? Anyway just by doing those things my sim has more money than she knows what to do with! (In only about 6 sim weeks' time)!
JaggidEdje
6 years ago
@ladysweettart, thanks for the tip. I actually already had that aspiration (and completed it instantly) on Abel. It just doesn't help once you tap yourself down to almost 0 funds.

It was the imminent baby and needing a bigger place that led to spending all of the family funds. I guess it was irresponsible of me to buy a place that was slightly more than they could afford, but I felt they could recover quickly...until I got the first week's bills.

Funny that you mentioned child support...cause she does get some. 3 of the 4 kids have a different father than who is in my household. That first-bill week it was only a few thousand, but this second week it was a bit over 9,000, so it definitely helps!
catmando830
6 years ago
"Stormkeep;d-952512" wrote:
I moved my sim family to 1 Torendi Tower Penthouse (at a cost of 456,000 simoleons). After their first week, the bills of 20k(ish) brought them down to only 1,000 simoleons in liquid funds.

I desperately need to make sure they raise the money to afford bills each week and it doesn't look like career salary alone will cut it. I'm seeking advice on the best way to earn some money quickly with what skills they have available. They have 3 children and 1 toddler to care for as well, which is really cutting into available earning time.

Miko works in the charity branch of the political career, is at career level 5, and has High Charisma and singing, and middling painting skill.
Abel works in the Tech career and is a pro-gamer (top of career ladder), he has maxed video gaming, cooking, handiness, logic, programming and rocket science skills.

I'm having Abel work on hacking and then will do some programming. Just wondering if there's something I'm missing as a better money earner with what is available to them. Painting is pretty good normally, but I use a mod that makes painting take longer because it's pretty much 'too good' for money normally (imo). Is there a way for Miko to earn money just with Charisma?

Heh, i'm not used to being in this dilemma...I don't normally let my established (this is 2nd generation household) sims get this tapped out, but they needed larger digs because of all the kids.

motherlode them
JaggidEdje
6 years ago
@catmando830, I've never used a money cheat, never will. I don't even let myself buy the traits that cheat the needs from the aspiration store. That stuff just takes away elements that make you 'play' the game.

Cheating to get funds is all well and fine if you are not actually playing, like if you are just doing filming or pictures for storytelling outside of the game or are trying to set up a specific story, but if you are already truly playing...all cheats do is shorten the amount of time the game will hold your interest...so no thanks! I don't see the point of spending real money on entertainment and then making choices that shorten that entertainment.
Zmias1
New Spectator
6 years ago
Some ideas could be selling cooked dishes for 50 to 75% rate right in a yard sale or at a festival. The kids can help sell that. Combine that with fishing for Sturgeon fish valued at $2k to $3k with all the adult/young adult sims could help as well. If you know how to collect the ingredients for ambrosia, that would give you up to $75k too. Additionally, selling paintings at a festival could earn you up to $15k or more a piece depending on the skill of your Sims. If all else fails, you should just downsize or trade out more expensive items such as beds, tv's, and computers in favor of cheaper ones or rent out some basement space to other working Sims.

Btw, in the future, buying a business first is probably a better idea than buying an overpriced house first. Then you know you will have sustainable income. Interestingly enough, one of my Sims earns her money even when she is not at her boutique and it seems to always be just enough to cover her bills. Not bad!
JaggidEdje
6 years ago
Oh, sweet, so the same table that is at festivals works on residential lots, I didn't know that! Awesome, thank you @MsKatieRose.

That's so cool, means my sims can have yard sales. Wish I'd have known that sooner, always assumed it was tied to retail lots. Don't ask me why I made that assumption other than...I think that's how it was in TS2, and I sometimes get caught in preconception based on past games in the series.