I've been playing Bus Fever Party for quite some time, and the number one question my friends ask me is "but how do you always have coins?" (trust me, I wasn't always the coin goblin I am today. I remember my first week, I bought a ridiculous skin I never ended up using and then was broke, staring at a shop full of things I couldn't afford). Let me save you the heartache. Here are my personal, unofficial, tested-on-myself tips.

1. Logging in every day (seriously it adds up)

I know, I know. "Logging in every day" sounds like the most boring tip ever. But those little rewards add up, especially if they give you more for a streak

Admit it, you've had a streak going for almost a week and then forgotten to open the game because you were at your cousins birthday party eating cake, and it's over. I was heartbroken. I sulked more than a person should have over pretend bus money. Now I have a phone reminder that says "BUS TIME" with three bus emojis. Silly but effective.

2. Do the daily/weekly missions

These are a huge source of coins, and I ignored them for way longer than I should have because I thought I was above them

Most missions ask for some amount of matches played, completed, or a certain mode to try within a week. The trick is to check them first and as you play, check off the things you do. Pro tip from a chronically disorganized person: look at your missions when you open up the app for a second. Previously me would play the game for an hour and then realize I could have been getting extra coins the whole time.

3. Watch the optional ads (smartly)

Ads are the bane of our existence, but most games offer a "watch to earn extra coins" thing, which is totally free for 30 seconds of your time

My system is to save them for when I have some ad watching time that I'm already using, like while waiting for the kettle, texting back, pretending to listen to a story my brother is telling me (it's a thing). One thing to be careful of is the buttons you tap, I accidentally tapped a sneaky ad button and ended up in the app store looking at a farming game I had zero interest in. Now I wait for the little X.

4. Actually finish your matches. Don't rage quit

You know what I'm talking about. You get a bad start, someone pushes you off the road in the most undignified way possible, and you decide to quit. But in a lot of party style games, if you actually finish the round you get something, even if you didn't win. Quitting early usually means getting nothing. So now I follow what I call the Dignity Rule. Finish the match, even if my bus is hanging off a ledge and everyone is laughing at me. Worth it.

5. Get good at the game (the boring but true tip)

I hate when people say this, but it's true. The better you are at the game, the more rewards you tend to get. Usually higher finishes mean better rewards. What helped me was

learning the maps. After a few rounds I could see where the shortcuts were, tricky bends, and places where most people crashed (there's always a corner). Also

not driving like an insane person. I use to constantly floor it, but turns out control beats chaos about 80% of the time. The other 20% is chaos. Lastly, I

watched other people play. I picked up a bunch of tricks just by watching people take turns and avoid obstacles. I'm not a pro (last week I confidently drove straight into a wall that I know is there), but I'm improving, and so is my coin count.

6. Play with friends

Not only are they more fun (the trash talking alone is worth it), but they can help make you feel less like you're wasting time. If the game has any party or friend bonuses, use them. My friend Danny and I have a tradition where the loser has to use a goofy character for the next three matches. Did it earn us extra coins? Not really, but it keeps me playing, and playing more means earning more. That's my stance and I'm sticking to it.

7. Pay attention to events

Limited time events tend to be where good stuff hides. Sometimes there are seasonal challenges or special modes with bonus rewards. They're easy to miss if you only skim the menus. I now make a habit of noticing any banners or notifications. Missing an event is like showing up late to a party after the cake has been eaten. Don't be me.

8. Spending your coins wisely

Less about getting more, and more about keeping what you have, but just as important. Before I buy anything I ask myself

Do I really want this or does it just look nice right now

Would I be sad if I bought this instead of another skin

Will I still want this next week

That ridiculous skin I mentioned at the start, I used it exactly twice. A lesson in restraint.

Getting coins in Bus Fever Party basically boils down to simple habits: logging in, checking missions, finishing matches, and not blowing your coins on the first shiny thing you see. No magic, just consistency (and maybe some snacks). Lastly, if you're playing a party game, you should enjoy the ride. If you're laughing, then you're doing it right, whether you're in first place or stuck sideways between two other buses.

If you have any other tips, feel free to put them in the comments! I'm always looking for new tricks and I promise not to judge your driving. (Okay maybe a little. Lovingly.) See you on the road! 🚌💨 - your fellow passenger