Animal Crossing: New Horizonsis finally here, and like each of the previous entries, the animal world is one’s oyster! The amount of freedom granted in thischarming sim experienceis 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 sometips, tricks, and general activitiesthat players can focus on to gather cash more quickly and effectively.
Updated May 31, 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.
16Sell Seashells
…By The Seashore
A good deal of the experience inNew Horizonsinvolves 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 theSummer Shell, Conch, and Giant Clam,can net well over 500 Bells.
Of course, many can be used as thefoundation 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.
15Collect 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 avaluable bug or fishand 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 likeStringfish, Dorado, Great White Sharks, and Whale Sharkswill fetch a pretty penny. When it comes to bugs, players will want to seek the highly valuableGolden Stag, Horned Hercules, Scarab Beetle, and Horned Elephantfor starters, among several others.
14Sell Turnips At High Prices
In Fact, Blood Can Be Squeezed From A Turnip Sometimes
The Stalk Market has been a mainstay in theAnimal Crossingfranchise since the beginning. Daisy Mae visits islands every Sunday morning until noon with a fresh crop of turnips, which she sells at prices ranging from90 to 110 Bells per turnip.Players then have one week to sell their turnips to Timmy and Tommy, who can offer prices from15 to 650 Bells.
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.
13Give 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.
12Sell Fossils
Fossils Provide More Than Historic Value In New Horizons
Each day,fourfossils 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 between1,000 Bells and 6,000 Bellsfrom Timmy and Tommy. Selling a full inventory of fossils will easily see players walking away with50,000 Bellsor 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.
11Prioritize Getting A Shovel And Get Digging
Dig Up Some Dough
Luckily, players will be able to craft a shovel relatively quickly and painlessly inNH. 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.
10Sell 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.
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.
9Collect 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 ofAnimal 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.
8Focus On Nook Miles And Convert Them To Bells
These Nook Miles Can Go A Long Way
One of the cool new features ofNew Horizonsis 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 universalACcurrency.
Simply pay a visit to the Resident Services kiosk to exchange500 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.
7Sell Dream Bell Exchange Tickets
Dream Big
Animal Crossing’s August 2020 updateintroduced 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.
