Attempting to track personal finances in a manner similar to real life within the game would introduce unnecessary complexity. However, using a slightly abstracted method, a gauge of an investigator’s living standard and spending power becomes possible. An investigator’s starting Credit Rating (CR) is determined during character creation, based upon the investigator’s chosen profession (see Sample Occupations pages 40-41).
There is no requirement to make any account of accommodation, food, or incidental travel expenses, so long as an investigator’s expenditure falls within the bounds of his or her living standard (see Credit Rating, page 61). In addition, a character can spend up to his or her Spending Level on any given day. It is likely that money will only occasionally become an issue in play, when large amounts are being spent. This may include preparing for a major trip, purchasing expensive items such as a vehicle or rare book, or hiring extra staff. The combination of being allowed to spend freely within the bounds of their living standard and the freedom of not being required to record expenditure below a certain spending level is intended to minimize bookkeeping. The use of this system may to lead to areas of uncertainty as to exactly what is within the bounds of an individual’s living standard and whether an investigator has exceeded their spending level. As always, the Keeper is the arbiter of such matters and is advised to intervene only when an investigator has clearly exceeded their spending level.
When an investigator spends an amount beyond their spending limit, the player must reduce their cash by the full amount spent. If cash is insufficient, the investigator may seek to use their assets. Converting assets into cash can take time; how long is up to the Keeper. Mortgaging a property, selling antiques, gaining loans, and so on all take time. If the investigator is away from their hometown, this is likely to take even longer. If multiple purchases of less than the investigator’s spending threshold are made on the same day, the Keeper may insist on combining the total purchases for comparison with the investigator’s spending level, and demand that a cash spend is deducted if the spending limit is exceeded.