It's a bad idea to promise more than you can really afford for a property, leaving yourself open to financial disaster should any unexpected expenses strike. In real life, taking out a mortgage is a serious thing - as many homeowners discovered during America's recession in the early 21st century. Although there's no record of how many soldiers used the rigged games to escape, the people who were involved in the project believe several airmen were able to use the board game's secret tools for their own benefit. British airmen held as prisoners of war by the German army received care packages through the International Red Cross that included innocuous-looking Monopoly games - which actually contained escape maps, compasses, metal files and real money provided by the British Secret Service. Since 1935, Monopoly has offered hours of entertainment to many players, but during World War II, this game went from being a fun (if highly competitive) way to pass the time to a real life-saver.

For many Monopoly enthusiasts bent on creating an economic empire, the fun of this board game is serious business. And even though your throat is dry and your belly empty, you refuse to take a break. Your shoulders ache from hours spent hunched over in concentration.

Monopoly house buying rules