so I remembered from a previous challenge
Making Money in 2020: 20 Days, 20 Ways that asking for loans was a big money maker and because this challenge had the friendship multiplier it seemed like this would work on the two at the same time. I thought it could earn a score of around two or three million but apparently vastly underestimated the strategy.
My sim Friendly Fam (creative burnout isn't just for Sims) started with Leader of the Pack aspiration for the socialising boost (switched between this and Friend of the World for satisfaction points and ultimately aspiration rewards) and the traits Outgoing, Insider, and Loyal (just in case it helped maintain friendships but not sure it had any impact). Immediately joined the Good Timers, bought the Popular Club perk, and started a gathering on my empty lot. Just until the welcome wagon came along for intros. Then I moved the club fun to The Gnome's Arms in Henford-on-Bagley as it has the convivial lot trait to boost charisma gain. I worked on charisma by befriending Bjorn so that I could take over the club. Changed activities to friendly interactions, watch TV etc. next club perk I bought was the boost to charisma skill gain.
Stayed in a club gathering most of the game for charisma boost and then for rally the troops though rotated members based on who I hadn't yet asked for loans. Once I got charisma up enough to ask for small loans I did this pretty much exclusively to level charisma to 9 for ask for large loans. Asking for both provides 2500 simoleons. Children can't give you loans but teens can give you small ones. All that friendliness led to a pristine reputation so pretty soon a cheerful interaction would max out the friendship bar or at least to good friend level. This isn't needed for loan requests but it makes it easier and obviously helps with the multiplier. Only one Sim refused a large loan outright, three or four needed a second ask. If Sims joined a conversation rather than Friendly introducing herself to them then they would not become friends right away. I tended to get money from them and move on rather than try to build friendship as there are enough NPCs for introductions to not need to waste time on that.
So it was a bit of grind once Friendly had levelled charisma (Tuesday?) which is why I played over four days despite it being a quick challenge. I'm sure a better score could be achieved if someone was willing to grind harder. Friendly completed Fabulously Wealthy as well as the other two aspirations. Friend of the World is supposed to stop friendship decay but it turned out not to be an issue anyway. Only one friendship decayed and that was because Vlad was mean/ gross I think. I basically went from lot to lot through each world to meet new Sims, greeting someone on their doorstep and asking them to join the club if I needed a boost. Ghost night at the pub was a good one as that provided Sims I wouldn't have met otherwise. Spent satisfaction points on Antiseptic so along with Rally the Troops she barely had to worry about needs. I have many pages of notes with who'd been asked for loans out of those met but near the end of the challenge it was a simple introduce - ask for large loan - ask for small loan - next intro so I stopped. Always asked for large loan first in case the Sim wanted to leave the lot.
Think that's the gist, was a lot of fun as always. Can't believe we only have a couple more challenges to go this year.