It's not easy to get established on blockchain-meets-Monopoly game Upland without paying for some UPX, but it is possible. You just need the right strategy and a bit of patience. If you want to try it, don't even sign up for the game until you've read this guide all the way through. One wrong move and you'll have blown your chance!

Your only goal when you start in Upland is to reach a net worth of 10,000 UPX. At that point your status changes from 'Visitor' to 'Uplander' and you can begin selling properties. Selling properties is the key to success in the game. If you don't want to pay $9.99 to get those 10,000 UPX instantly, then here are the steps: 

1. Use a promo code

Upland regularly offer promo codes that start you off with 6,000 UPX instead of 4,500 UPX. It's essential to find one of these. Not only does that put you 1,500 UPX closer to your goal right from the start, but 6,000 UPX is also a much more reasonable budget to buy your crucial first three properties.

These promo codes are not the same as referral codes. I got mine from a Brave Browser ad. It looks like DappRadar and Publish0x have had the same offer. Hunt around and make sure you're getting the 6,000 UPX.

2. Join a city with plenty of 'FSA' properties available

Each new city starts with a proportion of FSA ("Fair Start Act") properties. These properties are available at a low price and can't be bought by advanced players, giving new players a chance to get underway. You can't reach 10,000 UPX for free unless you start in a city with plenty of FSA properties.

Before you select your starting city, you should view the map as a Guest (use an incognito tab if needed) and check how many are available. Your best bet will probably be whichever city has been most recently released. And make sure you read the next step before you dive in, because all properties are not created equal!

3. Buy three collection properties on the same street

The next key to becoming an Uplander is completing collections. (Click the dots at the bottom of the game screen and select Collections to see them.) For each one you complete, you get a bonus of several hundred UPX. It's possible to complete four of the blue collections by buying just three properties if you get the right ones. 

To complete four collections, your first three properties need to be i) on the same street, ii) in one of the area collections, and iii) as cheap as possible so you can buy all three with your starting budget and ideally leave yourself some budget for step four.

This is by far the hardest step. It's not always even possible. FSA properties in area collections sell very quickly, so you might need to hold off starting the game until a new city is released. (The alternative is grinding the daily login bonuses, the free treasure hunt and the trickle of rent and visitor fees to cross the 10,000 UPX line.) But if you manage it, you can then collect all of the following bonuses by switching your three properties from one collection to the next:

• [Your city] (e.g. 'Bakersfielder') = about 350 UPX bonus
• Newbie = 800 UPX bonus
• King of the Street = 950 UPX bonus
• [Area] (e.g. 'Crown Heights') = about 800 UPX

You will now have a net worth of about 8,900 UPX, and you're within touching distance of the finish line.

4. Buy two other cheap properties in the same city

With the collection bonuses, you now need to buy two additional properties in the same city. It's ideal if these purchases are in different areas, but the main goal is having five properties in one city to complete the purple 'City Pro' collection.

If you've followed these steps, the 1,200 UPX for completing 'City Pro' will take your net worth over 10,000 UPX. 

You are now an Uplander!

It's time to climb the ladder by selling those cheap FSA properties for several times what you paid for them...