Money

Money, referred to as $ in game, is the primary currency in Balatro. It is a crucial resource for the player during a run.

The money currently held can be seen in the lower left corner of in-game interface, or on the starting panel when continuing a game.

Players have several ways to increase their cash reserves throughout a run:

Each of the standard decks provides a different starting advantage, with some offering a head start in the financial department:

• Most decks begin a run with a standard amount of money of $4.
• The Yellow Deck ( Start with extra {{Money|10}} Discover at least {{hl|orange|50}} items from your [[Collection|collection]] Yellow Deck.png) starts with an extra $10 (for a total of $14).
• Challenge Deck Rich get Richer ( ) starts with $100, and Golden Needle ( ) Challenge Deck starts with $10.

The most common way to earn money is by successfully defeating the Blinds in each Ante, then the player goes through Cash Out scene, including the following in order:

	Money Gained	Notes
Blind rewards	Small Blind ( Standard Small Blind.png): $3 Big Blind ( Standard Big Blind.png): $4 Boss Blinds: $5 Showdown Boss Blinds: $8	No reward money will be earned if a blind was saved by Mr. Bones (Prevents Death if chips scored are at least {{hl|orange|25%}} of required chips <br> {{hl|red|self destructs}} Lose {{hl|orange|5}} runs Uncommon Effect N/A (Passive) Mr. Bones.png). Small Blinds have no reward on Red Stake or higher. Challenge Deck Cruelty ( ) has no reward on Small and Big Blinds. Similarly, The Omelette ( ) has no reward on any Blind.
Unused hands	$1 per unused hand	Green Deck ( At end of each Round: <br> {{Money|2}} per remaining {{hl|blue|Hand}} <br> {{Money|1}} per remaining {{hl|red|Discard}} <br> Earn no {{hl|orange|Interest}} Discover at least {{hl|orange|75}} items from your [[collection]] Green Deck.png) grants $2 per remaining hand and $1 per remaining discard. The Omelette ( ) and Mad World ( ) earn no money from Extra Hands.
Joker-related effects	Various, see below	The effect of obtaining money at the end of a round (such as Golden Joker (Earn {{Money|4}} at end of round Common Economy N/A (Passive) Golden_Joker.png)) will be here.
Investment Tag ( Investment tag.png)	$25 for Boss Blinds	Will be redeemed even if a blind was saved by Mr. Bones (Prevents Death if chips scored are at least {{hl|orange|25%}} of required chips <br> {{hl|red|self destructs}} Lose {{hl|orange|5}} runs Uncommon Effect N/A (Passive) Mr. Bones.png).
Interest	$1 for every $5 held	With a cap of $5 each round (any money over $25 won't generate interest), which can be enhanced by certain Jokers or Vouchers (See Interest). Green Deck ( At end of each Round: <br> {{Money|2}} per remaining {{hl|blue|Hand}} <br> {{Money|1}} per remaining {{hl|red|Discard}} <br> Earn no {{hl|orange|Interest}} Discover at least {{hl|orange|75}} items from your [[collection]] Green Deck.png), The Omelette ( ) and Mad World ( ) earn no interest.

Players can sell unwanted Jokers and Consumables to gain some extra money. Their selling price varies (see Calculating sell value), and can be enhanced by Gift Card (Add {{Money|1}} of {{hl|orange|sell value}} to every [[Jokers|{{hl|orange|Joker}}]] and [[Consumables|{{hl|orange|Consumable}}]] card at end of round Uncommon Economy N/A (Passive) Gift Card.png).

A wide variety of other effects can grant money directly:

Jokers

Name	Effect
Faceless Joker (Earn {{Money|5}} if {{hl|orange|3}} or more {{hl|orange|face cards}} are discarded at the same time Common Economy On Discard Faceless_Joker.png)	Earn $5 if 3 or more face cards are discarded at the same time
Delayed Gratification (Earn {{Money|2}} per {{hl|orange|discard}} if no discards are used by end of the round Common Economy N/A (Passive) Delayed_Gratification.png)	Earn $2 per discard if no discards are used by end of the round
Business Card (Played {{hl|orange|face}} cards have a {{hl|green|1 in 2}} chance to give {{Money|2}} when scored Common Economy On Scored Business_Card.png)	Played face cards have a 1 in 2 chance to give $2 when scored
To Do List (Earn {{Money|4}} if [[Poker Hands|{{hl|orange|poker hand}}]] is a [[Poker Hands|{{hl|orange|[Poker Hand]}}]], poker hand changes at end of round Common Economy On Played To_Do_List.png)	Earn $4 if poker hand is a [Poker Hand], poker hand changes at end of round
Golden Joker (Earn {{Money|4}} at end of round Common Economy N/A (Passive) Golden_Joker.png)	Earn $4 at end of round
Golden Ticket (Played [[Gold Cards|{{hl|orange|Gold}}]] cards earn {{Money|4}} when scored Play a 5 card hand that contains only {{hl|orange|Gold}} cards Common Economy On Scored Golden Ticket.png)	Played Gold cards earn $4 when scored
Rough Gem (Played cards with {{suit|Diamond}} suit earn {{Money|1}} when scored Have at least {{hl|orange|30}} cards with {{hl|orange|Diamond}} suit in your deck Uncommon Economy On Scored Rough Gem.png)	Played cards with  Diamond suit earn $1 when scored
Matador (Earn {{Money|8}} if played hand triggers the {{hl|orange|Boss Blind}} ability Defeat a Boss Blind in {{hl|orange|1 hand}} without using any discards Uncommon Economy Independent Matador.png)	Earn $8 if played hand triggers the Boss Blind ability
Satellite (Earn {{Money|1}} at end of round per unique {{hl|cyan|Planet}} card used this run Have at least {{Money|400}}. Uncommon Economy N/A (Passive) Satellite.png)	Earn $1 at end of round per unique Planet card used this run
Cloud 9 (Earn {{Money|1}} for each {{hl|orange|9}} in your {{hl|orange|full deck}} at end of round <br> {{Currently|{{Money|4}}}} Uncommon Economy N/A (Passive) Cloud 9.png)	Earn $1 for each 9 in your full deck at end of round (Currently $4)
Rocket (Earn {{Money|1}} at end of round. Payout increases by {{Money|2}} when [[Blinds|{{hl|orange|Boss Blind}}]] is defeated Uncommon Economy N/A (Passive) Rocket.png)	Earn $1 at end of round. Payout increases by $2 when Boss Blind is defeated
Reserved Parking (Each {{hl|orange|face}} card held in hand has a {{hl|green|1 in 2}} chance to give {{Money|1}} Common Economy On Held Reserved Parking.png)	Each face card held in hand has a 1 in 2 chance to give $1
Mail-In Rebate (Earn {{Money|5}} for each discarded [[Card Ranks|{{hl|orange|[rank]}}]], rank changes every round Common Economy On Discard Mail-In Rebate.png)	Earn $5 for each discarded [rank], rank changes every round
Trading Card (If {{hl|orange|first discard}} of round has only {{hl|orange|1}} card, destroy it and earn {{Money|3}} Uncommon Economy On Discard Trading Card.png)	If first discard of round has only 1 card, destroy it and earn $3

Consumables

Name	Type	Effect
Immolate ()	Spectral	Destroys 5 random cards in hand, gain $20
Temperance ()	Tarot	Gives the total sell value of all current Jokers (Max of $50)
The Hermit ()	Tarot	Doubles money (Max of $20)

Tags

Name	Effect
Economy Tag ()	Doubles your money (Max of $40)
Garbage Tag ()	Gives $1 per unused discard this run (Will give $0)
Handy Tag ()	Gives $1 per played hand this run (Will give $0)
Investment Tag ()	Gain $25 after defeating the next Boss Blind.
Speed Tag ()	Gives $5 per skipped Blind this run (Will give $5)

Card Modifiers

Name	Effect
Gold Card ()	$3 if this card is held in hand at end of round
Gold Seal ()	Earn $3 when this card is played and scores
Lucky Card ()	1 in 5 chance for +20 Mult 1 in 15 chance to win $20

Players can use money in these ways to meet their needs:

Money is primarily spent in the Shop, which appears between each round. Here, players can purchase a variety of items, such as Jokers and Consumables, to enhance scoring. The cost of items varies, see Calculating buy cost.

With vouchers Director's Cut (Reroll [[Blinds|Boss Blind]] {{hl|orange|1}} time per Ante, {{Money|10}} per roll Base Director's Cut.png) and Retcon (Reroll [[Blinds|Boss Blind]] {{hl|orange|unlimited}} times, {{Money|10}} per roll Discover 25 Blinds Upgraded Retcon.png), players can reroll Boss Blinds for $10.

These effects will deduct money forcibly:

Name	Effect
Wraith (Creates a random [[Rare Jokers|{{hl|red|Rare}} {{hl|orange|Joker}}]], sets money to {{$|0}} Available from start. Spectral Wraith.png)	Creates a random Rare Joker, sets money to $0
The Tooth ( Boss The Tooth.png)	Lose $1 per card played
The Ox ( Boss The Ox.png)	Playing a (most played hand) sets money to $0
Rental ()	Lose $3 at end of round

Also, in challenge deck Golden Needle ( ), Discards each cost $1.

Most of the time, money does not directly affect any other game mechanics, except for the following effects:

Jokers

Name	Effect
Bootstraps ({{Mult|+2}} for every {{Money|5}} you have <br> {{Currently|{{Mult|+0}}}} Have at least {{hl|orange|2}} {{hl|edition|Polychrome}} Jokers at the same time. Uncommon Additive Mult Independent Bootstraps.png)	+2 Mult for every $5 you have (Currently +0 Mult)
Bull ({{Chips|+2}} for each {{$|1}} you have <br> {{currently|{{chips|+0}}}} Uncommon Chips Independent Bull.png)	+2 Chips for each $1 you have (Currently +0 Chips)
Vagabond (Create a [[Tarot Cards|{{hl|purple|Tarot}}]] card if hand is played with {{Money|4}} or less Rare Effect Independent Vagabond.png)	Create a Tarot card if hand is played with $4 or less

Challenge Decks

Name	Modifier
Luxury Tax ( )	Hold -1 cards in hand for every $5 you have 10 hand size
Rich get Richer ( )	Chips cannot exceed the current $ Start with $100

Under normal circumstances, the minimum amount of money held is $0. However, with Joker Credit Card (Go up to {{hl|red|-$20}} in debt Common Economy N/A (Passive) Credit Card.png), the player can have up to $20 in debt.

Passive effects, including The Tooth ( Boss The Tooth.png) and Rental () Sticker can also reduce money to below zero.

Effects that doubles the money, like Economy Tag ( Economy tag.png) and The Hermit (Doubles money<br>{{hl|grey|(Max of {{Money|20}})}} Available from start. Tarot The Hermit.png), won't double the debt.

Apart from obtaining money to repay debts, Wraith (Creates a random [[Rare Jokers|{{hl|red|Rare}} {{hl|orange|Joker}}]], sets money to {{$|0}} Available from start. Spectral Wraith.png) and The Ox ( Boss The Ox.png) can also remove debts by setting money to $0.