Several ways to earn and get more money in Disco Elysium. Let's figure out how to save on accommodation and where to find money at the beginning of the game.
The currency used in Disco Elysium is called the real (réal). In Disco Elysium, you'll need a lot of money, and there are plenty of things to spend it on. Money is needed to secure a roof over your head, buy food, heal, and also for acquiring various items and consumables. Unfortunately, getting money in Disco Elysium is not easy, but there are a few tips that will make this task easier for you.
At the beginning of the game, upon waking up, you'll discover that your hotel bill amounts to a colossal 130 reals, which is significantly more than your current balance of zero.
It's also worth noting that if you don't have a place to sleep, you'll have to pay Garte 20 reals a day to sleep in the Whirling-in-Rags. Not only do you need to try to make progress in the investigation every day, but you also have to look for ways to earn as much money as possible.
The first way to amass a fortune is simply to pick it up off the ground. Throughout the world of Disco Elysium, small handfuls of coins are scattered. Often, there's just a few cents, but it's better than nothing. For example, at the very beginning, you can find 40 cents right near your hotel room.
Press the Tab key as often as possible to highlight objects around your character. Inspect all boxes and collect everything to later sell. It won't be considered stealing. If acquiring an item or money is considered theft, a warning will appear in the dialogue box, which is usually accompanied by a skill check. The player's inventory is unlimited, and unwanted items can be sold.
The second way to earn money in Disco Elysium is to recycle any bottles you find. Near the Whirling-in-Rags hotel, there's a small shop called Frittte. It has a bottle recycling machine that offers 10 cents per bottle. The only problem is that you can't just carry them in your hands; you'll need a special bag.
To find a bag for collecting bottles, go to the left side of the main square of Martinaise. Approach the very edge of the water and find a drunkard by the stairs. At the man's feet lies a yellow Frittte! polyethylene bag. Pick it up. Congratulations, now you can collect bottles and sell them to the little recycling machine.
Another way to quickly earn money in Disco Elysium is by selling items at the pawnshop. You can find the pawnshop to the south of the Whirling-in-Rags hotel. This shop is run by an interesting guy with a light addiction. Bring him various items you find during the game, and you can make some money.
Here are some items you can pawn: the stylish pen Kim gives you, photographs, postcards you find, a broken mug. Essentially, anything you don't need can be sold.
Finally, the last way to earn money in Disco Elysium is literally begging strangers for alms. While not every NPC will give you money, some of them will.
To the left of Martinaise, in a boat, sits a rather wealthy woman named Joyce Messier. After talking to her for a bit, you can ask her for money. You should ask for 130 reals, just to cover the damage you caused to the hotel. The dialogue option will only appear after you receive the Settle Your Hotel Bill task.
You can also get 10 reals from a trader named Siileng. He sits at the bottom of the map.
Disco Elysium features a day-night cycle, meaning eventually night will fall and you'll need somewhere to rest (even if your mind torments you with nightmares in the process). Let's figure out where you can sleep, how much it will cost, and how to find a free bed.
Where to Sleep on the First Day
Your first night is a bit different from the others, as the Whirling-in-Rags will ask not only for the standard night's fee. Garte also wants you to pay for the room you trashed — a total of 130 reals. It's difficult to gather such an amount on the first day if you're not aware of the method mentioned above (asking Joyce Messier for money). The police station won't help you, Evrart Claire won't give you more than 25 reals (and that, by the way, will be considered a bribe), and there won't be enough bottles.
Fortunately, Kim will come to your aid. Around 22:00, a dialogue window will pop up over his icon in the bottom left corner, indicating he wants to talk. Do so, and he will ask you where you plan to sleep. He will suggest that both of you return to the Whirling-in-Rags and try to persuade Garte to let you stay for free.
The problem is that Garte won't be swayed by persuasion. However, this will give Kim an idea: last week, he confiscated several spinning reels from criminals and is willing to pawn them to pay the hotel bill. Take them to the pawnshop, and you'll get the money to cover the damage bill, plus you'll be able to use the room for one more night. Return and pay him, and you'll get the key again (though he won't clean the room for you). Just click on the dirty bed when you're ready to rest.
Where to Sleep After the First Day
From this point on, you can sleep at the Whirling-in-Rags hotel every night, paying Garte 20 reals a day. You must pay him by 21:00. You can earn this money by any methods described in this article.
Where to Sleep for Free
On the third day, when the Fishing Village becomes accessible, you can go there and talk to the elderly Washerwoman. Ask if there is a place to stay in the village, and she will mention an unused shack to the north of her. No one else is using it, so you can head there.
Yes, Kim is a bit unimpressed by the quality of this lodging, but it's a free room that also has a shaving kit, a bed, and a mirror, just like your room at the hotel. Take the key, and from this moment on, you can enter the shack and sleep in the bed whenever you want, instead of paying Garte.
First thing, go to the cart and take the useful tools from the box. On the promenade to the left, make sure to pick up the bottle bag and start examining the area.
On the promenade, you can find a bunch of bottles and boxes.
From the promenade, we go up, inspect the street in front of the house, and then go down to the boat.
We go right, inspect the area above the crime scene.
To the right, there will be a box and a door, the key to which can be obtained from a worker sitting on the stairs near the striking people.
Inside, there will be several useful items.
Talk to the smoker on the balcony. The door to the apartment building can be opened using a key hidden under a stone right next to the threshold.
Inspect the hallway and rooms inside.
The door to the room on the left will be open.
You can enter room 10 using bolt cutters from the police car.
Inspect the room with the girl.
Inspect both balconies.
There will be a room on the second balcony.
Go back and walk around the bookshop, inspect the area near the police car and the bench.
Return to the hotel and enter your room, located on the second floor. Here, collect a lot of bottles.
On the first floor, you can try to rob a sleeping person.
Head to the top right part of the map, where a strike is happening. Cross the bridge upwards and fight the strongman. In the box behind him, take the money and a bottle.
Go to the crime scene area. You can get there through the broken wooden gates located near the hotel. Try to open the huge metal container.
To the right, try to open the door covered with metal sheets. Inspect the room and go out onto its roof. Collect all useful items. Here, you can climb the boxes to another roof, where there are more useful items.
You can also get there from the other side, where a ladder will be near the striking workers. Inspect the room inside and go up to the roof.
Here, you can walk along the long balcony and collect bottles.
From this balcony, we head to the right, where there will be a couple more boxes and some coins.
Enter the red container located near the sitting person. Talk to Evrart Claire. You can get some money from him.
Descend to the striking people and collect some coins.
Just below, there will be a few more boxes.
From here, we move to the left. We will reach the area located under the police car. Collect useful items.
Go to the bookshop and break into the door hidden behind the orange curtains on the right.
In the room, collect items and go upstairs.
It's very dark here; you can use a flashlight, but it's not much help. Collect useful items.
In the darkness, find a door and inspect another room. Simply use the cursor to search for a passage; if it's a door, the icon will change. In a wall hideout, you can find a weapon.
Take unnecessary items to the pawnshop, and return bottles to the recycling machine. This should provide enough money for the time being.