The Rags to Riches challenge is one of the most popular ways to make The Sims 4 much more difficult.
The basic idea is simple: start with nothing, make money without getting a traditional job, and gradually build your Sim’s life from the ground up.
There are many different versions of the challenge, so you can adjust the rules to make it as easy or difficult as you want.
The basic version starts your Sim with 0 Simoleons and doesn’t allow them to take a job.
Create your Sim in CAS and choose whatever traits and aspirations you want. You can play as a Teen, Young Adult, Adult, or Elder and use whatever lifespan settings you prefer.
Your Sim doesn’t need to look homeless, but giving them a rough starting outfit can make the challenge feel more appropriate.
Move your Sim onto any residential lot. If there’s already a house on the lot, bulldoze it so your Sim starts with an empty piece of land.
You can choose any world or lot you like. The important part is that your Sim has no house or furniture when the challenge begins.
Then set your household funds to 0 Simoleons.
Open the cheat console by pressing Ctrl + Shift + C on PC.
Type testingcheats true and hit Enter
Then enter: Money 0
Press Enter again. Your household funds should now be reduced to 0 Simoleons.
Once you’ve done this, the challenge begins.
You need to make money without getting a job.
Your Sim cannot take a traditional career. Everything else is largely up to you.
You can make money by fishing, gardening, collecting, painting, writing, crafting, selling items, or using any other legitimate gameplay method that doesn’t involve getting a job.
At the beginning, focus on activities that don’t require much money to get started. Fishing, collecting and using public facilities can help your Sim survive while you’re saving up for basic necessities.
Once you have some money, you can invest it in objects that help you earn even more.
For example, buying an easel allows your Sim to develop their Painting skill and sell their paintings.
Get the basic necessities first.
Once your Sim starts earning money, you don’t have to immediately build a fancy house. A bed, toilet and way to get food are much more useful in the early stages.
You can gradually add better furniture and expand your home as your finances improve.
Use community lots to survive.
Your Sim can make good use of public lots while they’re still broke. Libraries, parks, gyms and other community lots can provide access to facilities your Sim can’t afford at home.
You can also visit friends to sleep, eat or take care of other needs, depending on how you want to play the challenge.
The Always Welcome reward trait can be particularly useful because it allows your Sim to use objects in other Sims’ homes without being treated like an inappropriate guest.
There isn’t one universal amount of money that marks the end of a Rags to Riches challenge. You can set your own goal.
For example, you could end the challenge once your Sim has:
Built and furnished a complete home.
Reached 100,000 Simoleons.
Accumulated 1 million Simoleons.
Completed a specific aspiration or other personal goal.
The important part is deciding on your goal before you start if you want a clear finish line.
The basic challenge only gives you a starting point. Many players add restrictions to make the challenge harder.
Common rules include:
Don’t use cheats except for setting household funds to 0 and fixing/resetting Sims when necessary.
Don’t use mods that make earning money easier.
Don’t move into a furnished house.
Don’t sell items directly from your Sim’s inventory.
Don’t use money received from other Sims.
Don’t get married purely to gain access to another Sim’s money.
Don’t build a house until you’ve reached a particular skill level.
You don’t have to use all of these rules. Pick the restrictions that make the challenge enjoyable for you.
If the standard challenge isn’t difficult enough, add additional restrictions.
For example, there’s a variation that prevents Sims from selling items directly from their inventory, forcing them to find other ways to sell their belongings, such as using a yard sale or Plopsy when available.
You can also create themed versions of the challenge, such as requiring your Sim to make all their money through gardening, painting, writing, fishing, or another specific activity.
The main appeal of Rags to Riches is watching your Sim go from having absolutely nothing to building a successful life.
Start with 0 Simoleons, avoid traditional employment, and decide how difficult you want the journey to be.
The Homeless Artist Rags to Riches Challenge
Start with 0 Simoleons on an empty lot.
Your Sim can't get a traditional job.
Your Sim can only make money through Painting, Photography, or selling collectibles they find.
Your Sim can't sell paintings until they reach Level 5 Painting.
Your Sim can't buy an easel until they’ve earned their first 500 Simoleons.
Your Sim must sleep on community lots or at friends’ homes until they can afford a bed.
Once your Sim has earned 10,000 Simoleons, they must build a small studio.
The challenge is complete when your Sim has earned 100,000 Simoleons and has a fully furnished home with a dedicated art studio.
The Farm From Nothing Rags to Riches Challenge
Start with 0 Simoleons on an empty lot.
Your Sim can't get a traditional job.
Your Sim must make their money primarily through Gardening and selling what they grow.
Your Sim can't buy produce from other Sims or order ingredients online.
Your Sim can collect wild plants and use them to start their garden.
Your Sim can't build a proper house until they have earned 5,000 Simoleons.
Once they have a house, at least half of the lot must remain dedicated to farming.
Your Sim must eventually grow a variety of plants and become financially self-sufficient.
The challenge is complete when your Sim has 50,000 Simoleons, a fully furnished farmhouse, and a profitable garden.