How to Get a Lot of Bells in Animal Crossing: Tips and Strategies – In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, bells are the lifeblood of your financial success. From upgrading your home to purchasing exclusive items and decorations, having a steady supply of bells ensures you can build the island of your dreams. If you’re looking to maximize your income and stockpile bells quickly, this guide will provide you with practical, efficient, and beginner-friendly methods to achieve your goals.

About the Importance of Bells Animal Crossing

Before diving into strategies, it’s essential to understand why bells are so valuable in Animal Crossing. They are used for:

• Paying off loans: Upgrade your house and expand its size and storage.
• Buying items: Purchase furniture, clothing, and tools from shops.
• Developing infrastructure: Build bridges and inclines to improve your island.
• Trading with villagers: Gift your villagers items to boost friendships.

Because bells are integral to the game’s progression, knowing how to earn them efficiently is a top priority for players.

Daily Activities to Earn Bells

1. Shake Trees for Bells and Items

Each day, trees on your island hold hidden treasures. Shake non-fruit trees to find furniture and bells hidden among the branches. Be careful of wasps, though! Carry a net and stay prepared to catch them, as selling wasps can also earn you bells.

2. Hit Rocks for Money

Every day, one of your rocks turns into a “money rock.” Hitting this rock with a shovel or axe releases bells instead of resources. Maximize your earnings by digging two holes behind you to prevent recoil when hitting the rock. Aim to collect all eight bell drops before the timer ends.

3. Check Your Beach for Bottles

DIY recipes often wash up on your beach inside message bottles. These recipes can sometimes fetch high prices when sold or traded with other players.

Sell High-Value Items

1. Harvest and Sell Fruit

Your island will have a native fruit type (apples, oranges, cherries, peaches, or pears). While selling native fruit only earns 100 bells per piece, non-native fruit sold to Nook’s Cranny fetches 500 bells each. To maximize earnings:

• Visit friends’ islands to collect their native fruits.
• Plant non-native fruits on your island to create orchards.

2. Catch Bugs and Fish

Catching bugs and fish is one of the simplest ways to earn bells. Some species are more valuable than others. For instance:

• Bugs: Tarantulas (8,000 bells) and scorpions (8,000 bells) are highly profitable.
• Fish: Look out for rare catches like coelacanths (15,000 bells) and golden trout (15,000 bells).
• Selling these creatures to Timmy and Tommy at Nook’s Cranny is a quick way to earn cash.

Pro Tip: During events like the Bug-Off or Fishing Tourney, you can catch rare species and win exclusive items, further increasing your profits.

3. Sell Turnips at High Prices

The turnip market, known as the “stalk market,” is one of the most lucrative ways to make bells. Every Sunday morning, Daisy Mae sells turnips on your island. Here’s how to capitalize on them:

• Buy low, sell high: Purchase turnips when Daisy Mae offers them for a low price, then sell them during the week when Nook’s Cranny offers higher prices.
• Track prices: Turnip prices fluctuate twice daily (morning and afternoon). Monitor the trends or use online tools to predict peak prices.
• Visit other islands: Join communities or forums where players share high turnip prices to maximize your profits.
• Warning: Turnips spoil after a week, so don’t let them sit in your inventory for too long!

Advanced Bell-Making Strategies

1. Invest in Bell Trees

Planting bell trees is a smart way to multiply your money. Here’s how it works:

• Look for the glowing spot on your island each day.
• Dig up the buried bells to receive 1,000 bells.
• Instead of filling the hole with regular bells, bury 10,000 bells.
• A money tree will grow, yielding three bags of 10,000 bells (30,000 bells total).

This method is a consistent way to increase your earnings with minimal effort.

2. Farm Rare Bugs on Mystery Islands

Using Nook Miles Tickets to visit mystery islands can provide opportunities to catch rare bugs like tarantulas and scorpions. If the island doesn’t spawn these creatures naturally, clear all the rocks, trees, and flowers to encourage them to appear.

Some mystery islands, like “Tarantula Island,” are specifically designed for farming rare creatures. If you’re lucky enough to land on one, you can earn hundreds of thousands of bells in one trip.

Make the Most of Seasonal Events

Seasonal events often bring unique opportunities to earn bells. During these events, players can collect event-exclusive items and sell them for profit. Examples include:

• Festive Season (December): Craft festive DIY items and sell them at Nook’s Cranny.
• Bunny Day (Easter): Collect Bunny Day eggs and craft limited-time items to trade or sell.
• Fishing Tourney: Catch rare fish during the event and sell them for high rewards.

Stay updated on upcoming events to ensure you don’t miss these opportunities.

Turn Trash Into Treasure

Even seemingly useless items can earn you bells. Here’s how:

1. Sell Shells

Scour your beach daily for shells. While not as profitable as some other methods, they’re easy to collect and provide a steady income when sold in bulk.

2. Repurpose and Sell Crafted Items

Instead of selling raw materials like wood or iron nuggets, craft them into furniture or tools. Crafted items often sell for more than the materials alone.

Use Online Trading Communities

Joining Animal Crossing trading forums or social media groups can be a game-changer. Players often trade valuable items, materials, and even bells. Here’s how to make the most of these communities:

• Sell DIY Recipes: Duplicate DIY recipes can be sold or traded for bells.
• Offer Services: Help other players with tasks like watering flowers or delivering items in exchange for bells.
• Trade High-Demand Items: Seasonal or exclusive items can fetch high prices in online markets.

Tips for Saving Bells

Making bells is only half the battle; saving them is just as important. Follow these tips to keep your bell stash growing:

• Avoid impulse purchases: Only buy items you truly need.
• Shop smart: Wait for sales or special discounts at Nook’s Cranny.
• Store bells in the ABD (Automatic Bell Dispenser): This not only keeps your money safe but also prevents you from overspending.

Consistency is Key

Earning bells in Animal Crossing isn’t about a single big score; it’s about consistency. By combining daily tasks with larger ventures like the stalk market and mystery islands, you’ll steadily grow your wealth and achieve your financial goals.

Final Thoughts

Getting a lot of bells in Animal Crossing: New Horizons requires a mix of daily habits, smart investments, and strategic gameplay. Whether you’re planting bell trees, selling turnips, or farming rare bugs, there’s no shortage of ways to grow your wealth. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the richest resident on your island.