Best Ways To Earn Bells Fast In Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is finally here, and like each of the previous entries, the animal world is one’s oyster! The amount of freedom granted in this charming sim experience is more flexible and expansive than ever in this Switch sequel.

Though this can make for an endlessly delightful experience, it can also be tough to pinpoint just what one should be focused on and how best to obtain money, or ‘Bells.’ But never fear! This list will cover some tips, tricks, and general activities that players can focus on to gather cash more quickly and effectively.

Updated February 3, 2025 by Stephen LaGioia: Even years after its initial release, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is still one of the most popular Switch games on the market. It makes sense, given the seemingly endless appeal of this cozy, satisfying virtual playground. Players are continuing to find savvy and creative ways to turn their islands into the ultimate escape — especially during the colder months of the year. Since Nintendo has kept things fairly fresh with updates extending to November 2022, we’re sure players will keep their islands fresh, too. Of course, that can cost a pretty virtual penny, but there are many ways to become a quick Bell-ionaire.

16

Sell Seashells

…By The Seashore

A good deal of the experience in New Horizons involves scavenger hunts of sorts, which unearth various items that run the gamut in terms of value. One of the quickest, simplest ways to gather items and turn them around for pure profit is to collect and sell seashells.

Not only can such a hunt be scenic and calm when scurrying across the beach, but some of the shells can actually bring a pretty penny. A few, like the Summer Shell, Conch, and Giant Clam, can net well over 500 Bells.

Of course, many can be used as the foundation for various recipes, but many gamers may find it more useful, at least in the short term, to “cut out the middle man” and sell them directly to Nook.

15

Collect Bugs, Fish, And Weeds To Sell To NPCs

Especially Larger, Rarer Ones!

Selling things to Timmy and Tommy is not always the most profitable option. It may be one’s first instinct to capture a valuable bug or fish and quickly head off to Nook’s Cranny, but try to hold on to the critters for a bit. There are a few NPCs who will make it worth one’s while. First, there’s Flick, a punky lizard who loves to collect bugs.

There’s also CJ the beaver, a fishing extraordinaire. A recent addition to the NPCs, Leif the sloth, runs a traveling gardening stand and will take weeds off one’s hands. All of these characters buy their respective collectibles at a premium price. It may take a while to see them on one’s island, but the bigger the collection that’s brought, the more Bells are earned.

Rarer bugs and fish are even more profitable. Fish like Stringfish, Dorado, Great White Sharks, and Whale Sharks will fetch a pretty penny. When it comes to bugs, players will want to seek the highly valuable Golden Stag, Horned Hercules, Scarab Beetle, and Horned Elephant for starters, among several others.

14

Sell Turnips At High Prices

In Fact, Blood Can Be Squeezed From A Turnip Sometimes

The Stalk Market has been a mainstay in the Animal Crossing franchise since the beginning. Daisy Mae visits islands every Sunday morning until noon with a fresh crop of turnips, which she sells at prices ranging from 90 to 110 Bells per turnip. Players then have one week to sell their turnips to Timmy and Tommy, who can offer prices from 15 to 650 Bells.

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The price changes twice a day. It’s a bit of a gamble, because one never knows if or when a decent price will be found. Thankfully, there are tools on the Internet to help track and predict daily turnip prices. In addition, players can check out sites like Turnip Exchange to find islands with high prices. Fill those pockets with turnips and reap the rewards.

13

Give Gifts To Villagers

Get On Their Good Side With Some Gifts

Generosity goes a long way. Once a villager is on an island for at least a week with frequent communication, players can begin giving them daily gifts and helping them with tasks as needed. More often than not, they’ll give something in return, sometimes in the form of Bells. Otherwise, players can collect and sell the items that they give.

Of course, they won’t give a huge amount of Bells, but all those small amounts will add up over time.

12

Sell Fossils

Fossils Provide More Than Historic Value In New Horizons

Each day, four fossils are buried randomly on one’s island. Donating new finds to Blathers at the museum is a sensible option, but these ancient relics are also great money-makers. Each fossil is worth anywhere between 1,000 Bells and 6,000 Bells from Timmy and Tommy. Selling a full inventory of fossils will easily see players walking away with 50,000 Bells or more.

Players are likely to find a ton of duplicate fossils as the museum’s collection grows, so don’t feel too bad if deciding to sell them instead of giving them finds to Blathers.

11

Prioritize Getting A Shovel And Get Digging

Dig Up Some Dough

Luckily, players will be able to craft a shovel relatively quickly and painlessly in NH. It’s simply a matter of waiting for a day and getting Blathers to set up shop on one’s island, which is triggered after players assemble a Flimsy Fishing Rod and a Flimsy Net. They’ll then simply need to nab five bugs or fish and bring them to Tom Nook.

Once they’ve gotten this valuable tool, players can go to work on digging up coveted goods and planting things that can pay off after playing the waiting game. Gamers will want to be on the lookout for things like fossils to sell to Timmy in the Resident Services building, and they can also use it to mine precious materials from stone.

10

Sell Furniture And Crafted Items

One’s Island Getaway Can Come With Some Work — But It Pays Off!

Scouring for natural resources around one’s island can bring in a steady stream of Bells, though it’s a particularly good idea to prioritize using raw materials like wood, branches, and nuggets to craft various items.

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This is because these items tend to sell for quite a bit more than most raw materials and random finds around the island. Players might want to craft a bunch of items with the sole intent of selling them right back. Be sure to collect any spare, unwanted furniture previously made or have been gifted, as this will bring in pretty large quantities of Bells too.

9

Collect Foreign Fruit

Fruitful Endeavors

Players may have noticed that their island has an abundance of a certain type of fruit. One can, of course, gather a collection of these to sell, though they’ll want to prioritize getting foreign fruit. Basically, it’s all about supply and demand, even in the fantasy world of Animal Crossing. Players can obtain this coveted foreign fruit by exploring a Mystery Island that can be flown to via a Nook Miles Ticket.

Besides this, players can also trade this foreign fruit with a friend, by going to each other’s islands and gathering the native fruit there. They’ll then be able to farm this by planting their own tree back in their homeland, which can, in turn, be exploited by gathering more and selling it at a higher price than their native fruit brings in.

8

Focus On Nook Miles And Convert Them To Bells

These Nook Miles Can Go A Long Way

One of the cool new features of New Horizons is Nook Miles (and the unlockable Nook Miles+), which doubles as a sort of in-game achievement system and alternate currency. Among other uses, those who covet Bells can directly utilize these Miles by converting them into this more universal AC currency.

Simply pay a visit to the Resident Services kiosk to exchange 500 Nook Miles for a 3,000 Bell voucher. Shoot for these more effectively by using your trusty smartphone to flip through various tasks that reward you with Miles and check your progress. Players will get prompts on their phone once they’ve knocked out another achievement, which will enable them to quickly cash in.

7

Sell Dream Bell Exchange Tickets

Dream Big

Animal Crossing‘s August 2020 update introduced dream islands, which allow players to capture their island as a static dream. Players can visit via a Dream Address without the ability to affect anything on the island. Nothing saves at the end of the dream visit, so there’s no fear of vandalization.

Luna, the anteater in charge of dream islands, will reward players with Dream Bell exchange tickets in the mail if these dream islands are visited frequently. These work the same as the aforementioned Bell Vouchers from the Nook Miles kiosk. However, at 5,000 bells a piece, these tickets rake in a bit more cash.

6

Travel And Explore Other Islands

A Fun And Resourceful Journey

There’s another key way in which Nook Miles can be useful, and can directly help players obtain more Bells quicker and more efficiently.

After earning 2,000 Miles, players can purchase a Nook Miles Ticket, which will allow them to explore and forage a Mystery Island. This is a practice gamers will want to take on often, as the island is home to unique and rare varieties of critters and resources, as well as unique fruit. Be sure to clear out some space in that inventory, equipping the necessary tools — and happy hunting!

5

Focus On Fishing

Teach A Villager To Fish, They’re Fed For A Lifetime

One of the first activities players can partake in is fishing, and they’ll want to do this quite regularly. Still, while catching most fish types can be fairly beneficial, they’ll want to be on the lookout for larger fish swimming about. This will increase their chances of notching a rarer breed, which can be pawned for larger quantities of Bells.

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Fish like Red Snapper and Saw Sharks fall into this exclusive category, among a slew of others. If players landed a large and unique-looking fish, chances are they can bring in at least decent cash. Use bait when possible, and prioritize fishing in the ocean rather than rivers, as one is more likely to get rare catches with these actions.

4

Go Insect-Hunting At Night

One Must Overcome Their Fear Of Spiders

Players may notice that we’ve thus far excluded insect hunting. This isn’t because catching bugs effectively is a pointless, time-wasting affair necessarily. Yet, it’s usually a bit tougher and doesn’t typically net as much earnings as fishing.

With that said, though, players definitely should have that net ready if they’re out and about at night (past 6 pm). This is the point of the day when rarer bugs and critters like Tarantulas will be emerging. As mentioned, bug-catching can also yield greater returns when exploring Mystery Islands as well.

3

Seek Out The Money Rock

A Daily Scavenger Hunt

One of the simplest — and ironically most fruitful — New Horizons endeavors is to roam one’s island and bash as many rocks as possible. As mentioned, this will yield resources, though players also have a chance to spot the rare ‘money rock,’ which will unearth bags of precious Bells. Players can find one per day, and they can be hit up to eight times — granting up to 16,400 Bells!

Players may not want to attempt this until they’re able to get something more sturdy than a Flimsy Shovel/Axe, as these will break down rather quickly.

2

Focus On Selling Nook’s “Hot Item” Of The Day

Strike While The Item Is Hot

Be sure to prioritize obtaining Nook’s Cranny, which is the game’s dedicated shop, first and foremost. This is triggered upon completing Timmy and Tom’s request to gather 30 pieces of the following — wood, softwood, hardwood, and iron nuggets. It might seem a bit tedious, but the payoff is quite worth it. The dedicated shop will open, at which point the “hot item of the day” will be opened up to the player.

Now, players will be able to pawn a randomly chosen crafted item which will bring in twice the Bells it normally sells for. So get a jump on what the item in question is and get to work having one ready to sell during the day.

1

Collect From The Money Tree

Perhaps Money CAN Grow On Trees…

If one has spent a day or two wandering their island habitat, they might have noticed the occasional enticing gold glow coming from the ground. As it happens, digging in this area will unearth a bag of cold hard Animal Crossing cash.

Moreover, players can then take this bag and bury it back in the hole from whence it came. This will trigger the eventual growth of a money tree, which (after about five days) will bear additional bags of Bells. Players can plant more than one of these trees on their island, and burying more Bells yields greater returns — so take advantage and make it rain!

It should also be noted that, at least when planting 10,000 Bells or more, a player can top out at a 3x return, cashing in on a whopping 30,000 Bells for merely planting and watering bags of cash. Still, players shouldn’t exceed that amount by much, if any, as 10,000 is the threshold for this high return.

Game

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Systems

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Released

March 20, 2020

Developer(s)

Nintendo EPD

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Publisher(s)

Nintendo

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Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer

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