Look, we've all been there. You spend three hours meticulously sculpting the perfect jawline for your Sim, picking out their traits, and deciding their lifelong ambition is to be a world-renowned chef. Then you drop them into a tiny, depressing starter home with a fridge that breaks every two days and a bed that feels like a slab of concrete. It's frustrating. The grind is real, and sometimes you just want to build a mansion with a sprawling basement pool right now.
That’s where sims cheats for money come in. Honestly, the Sims franchise is one of the few games where cheating isn't just "allowed"—it's basically part of the culture. Maxis knows this. Electronic Arts knows this. They literally build these codes into the game so we can bypass the struggle of the 9-to-5 career tracks if we want to.
Getting the cheat console to actually work
Before you can start raining Simoleons from the sky, you have to actually open the door. It’s a simple keystroke, but if you’re playing on a console, it feels a bit like a secret handshake. On a PC or Mac, you’re just hitting Ctrl + Shift + C at the same time. If you’re on a PlayStation or Xbox, you’ve got to hold down all four shoulder buttons (L1, L2, R1, R2 or LB, LT, RB, RT) simultaneously.
A thin white box pops up in the top left corner. That's your gateway to infinite wealth.
One thing people often forget is the "testingcheats" command. While some basic money codes work without it, typing testingcheats true (or testingcheats on) is generally good practice. It unlocks the deeper layers of the game's engine. Just a heads up for the trophy hunters out there: once you enable cheats on a console save, achievements and trophies are gone for that specific file. You've been warned.
The classic big three: Rosebud, Kaching, and Motherlode
If you’ve played any version of the game since the original released in 2000, these words are probably burned into your brain. They are the holy trinity of sims cheats for money.
Let's start small. Typing kaching or rosebud into that text box will instantly deposit 1,000 Simoleons into your household funds. It’s enough to replace a broken stove or buy a slightly nicer TV. It feels balanced. It’s "light" cheating.
Then there’s the big one. motherlode.
Executing this command gives you 50,000 Simoleons. Boom. Instant middle-class luxury. You can do this ten times in a row and suddenly you’re the wealthiest person in Willow Creek. It’s the most iconic cheat in gaming history for a reason. It just works.
Why "Money" is actually the best cheat you aren't using
While everyone talks about Motherlode, the pro move is actually just using the word "money."
I'm serious.
If you have testing cheats enabled, you can type money X (replace X with any number) to set your household funds to that exact amount. Want exactly one million Simoleons? Type money 1000000. Want to roleplay a "rags to riches" story where your Sim suddenly loses everything in a bad investment? Type money 0.
It is much more efficient than typing motherlode twenty times. It gives you total control over the economy of your household. It’s precise. It’s clean. It’s the expert’s choice for managing Simoleons without the repetitive strain injury.
Real estate is free if you know the code
Sometimes you don't even want the cash in the bank; you just want the house. Maybe you saw a gorgeous Victorian build on the Gallery and you want to move your new family in immediately, but the lot costs 150,000 Simoleons and you've only got 20k.
You don't need to move into a shack first.
From the neighborhood view (World Map), open your cheat console and type FreeRealEstate on. Now, every single lot in the world—regardless of price—will glow green. You can move into any mansion, penthouse, or sprawling estate for zero dollars. It’s a game-changer for builders who want to test their creations with actual Sims without dealing with the financial logistics.
The hidden cost of infinite wealth
Is there a downside? Kinda.
The Sims is, at its heart, a life simulator. When you remove the struggle for money, you remove a lot of the gameplay loop. You don't need to go to work. You don't need to level up your skills to get that promotion. You might find yourself getting bored faster because there’s no "win condition" left to chase.
I usually recommend using money cheats for "The Build," but trying to play the "Life" part legitimately. Or, use the money cheat to give yourself a modest inheritance rather than a bottomless pit of gold. It keeps the stakes high enough to stay interesting.
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Managing bills and recurring costs
Even if you have millions, the game will still hit you with bills. In The Sims 4, bills are calculated based on the value of your lot and the items in your inventory. If you live in a massive mansion, your weekly bills could be 30,000 Simoleons or more.
If you’re tired of paying them, you can use households.autopay_bills true.
It just handles it. No more mailman bringing bad news. No more power being cut off while your Sim is in the middle of cooking dinner. It’s the ultimate "set it and forget it" move for a stress-free game.
Making money "legitimately" with cheats
If you want to feel like you've earned your wealth but still want a leg up, you can use cheats to boost your career or skills. This is the "middle ground" approach.
Instead of just giving yourself cash, use stats.set_skill_level Major_Painting 10. Now your Sim is a master artist. They can churn out "Masterpiece" paintings that sell for thousands of Simoleons each. You’re still "working" for the money, but you’ve skipped the years of practice.
You can do the same with careers. Use careers.promote Painter to climb the ladder instantly. It feels a bit more integrated into the story of your Sim's life than just magical cash appearing in their bank account.
Actionable steps for your next session
To make the most of your Sim's financial future, follow this specific flow when you next boot up the game:
- Open the console immediately using the shortcuts for your specific platform (PC, Mac, or Console).
- Enable the master switch by typing
testingcheats true. This ensures every other command you try actually fires off. - Set a specific goal for your household. Don't just spam Motherlode. Decide if you want a $100,000 "inheritance" or if you want to be a billionaire using the
moneycommand. - Use FreeRealEstate before you even pick a lot if you have a specific dream home in mind from the Gallery.
- Keep an eye on your inventory. If you use cheats to buy everything, your lot value skyrockets, and your bills will follow. Use the autopay cheat if you don't want to deal with the consequences of your luxury.
The beauty of The Sims is that there is no "right" way to play. Whether you want to struggle through the freelance writing career or live in a gold-plated palace from day one, these tools give you the agency to tell the story you want. Just remember to save your game before experimenting with high-level cheats; sometimes the game engine gets a little cranky when you mess with its internal logic too much.
Now go build that dream house. The Simoleons are waiting.