What Happens When You Bury a Bag of Bells in Animal Crossing? A Comprehensive Guide

Burying a bag of Bells in Animal Crossing: New Horizons can lead to a rewarding experience – a money tree that sprouts bags of Bells, ready to be shaken down. This mechanic is a key method for making Bells and expanding your island empire. However, the return isn’t always guaranteed, and the specifics vary depending on the amount of Bells you bury. So, what exactly happens?

The short answer is: when you bury a bag of Bells in a glowing hole (also known as a shining spot), you plant a money tree sapling. This sapling will eventually grow into a fully mature tree that yields Bells. The amount you get depends on how many Bells you initially buried, and, sometimes, a bit of luck!

How Money Trees Work in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Every day, a glowing spot appears on your island. Digging this spot will reveal 1,000 Bells. If you simply refill the hole, it disappears, but if you rebury an amount of bells in the hole a sapling will grow. This sapling will then transform into a money tree within a few days. Here’s a breakdown of how much you might get based on how much you initially bury:

• 100 – 1,000 Bells: If you bury between 100 and 1,000 Bells, you will always receive 3,000 Bells when the tree matures (3 bags of 1,000 Bells).
• 2,000 – 9,000 Bells: When burying between 2,000 and 9,000 Bells, there is a 70% chance you will get 3 bags of 3,000 Bells, and a 30% chance you will receive 3x the amount of Bells you buried.
• 10,000 Bells: Burying exactly 10,000 Bells will always yield 30,000 Bells (3 bags of 10,000 Bells)
• 10,001 – 99,000 Bells: If you bury between 10,001 and 99,000 Bells, you’re taking a gamble. There is a 70% chance that the tree will still only produce 30,000 Bells, and a 30% chance that it will produce 3x the amount buried. This is very risky, as burying more than 10,000 Bells can result in a loss of bells.

It’s crucial to understand that the outcome is determined immediately when you bury the Bells, not when the tree matures. This means that reloading the game will not change how much the tree will pay out.

The Key to Safe Profit: Sticking to 10,000 Bells

The most reliable way to earn profit from money trees is to bury 10,000 Bells each day. This guarantees a return of 30,000 Bells, giving you a profit of 20,000 Bells. This is why many seasoned players recommend burying 10,000 Bells daily. It’s the most efficient way to farm Bells with no risk involved. Burying more than 10,000 Bells comes with the risk of losing your investment. It’s a gamble that may not pay off.

The Money Tree in Other Animal Crossing Games

While the concept of burying Bells is consistent throughout the Animal Crossing series, the mechanics differ. Notably, in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, money trees were more straightforward. When you buried Bells using a golden shovel, you were always guaranteed to receive three bags of 30,000 Bells, regardless of the amount you buried initially. This made it a less risky way of making some extra profit.

After Harvesting: What Happens Next?

Once you shake your mature money tree and collect the bags of Bells, the tree reverts to being a regular tree. It won’t produce any more Bells, so it’s just another leafy tree on your island. You’ll need to find a new glowing spot to plant another money tree. Money trees can also be dug up and replanted after they sprout, which means you have control of how they are arranged on your island.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Money Trees

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the mechanics of money trees in Animal Crossing:

1. How many money trees can I have on my island?

There is no limit to how many money trees you can grow on your island. As long as you find a glowing spot you can plant a money tree.

2. Do money trees only grow once?

Yes, money trees only produce Bells once. Once you shake the money bags off the tree, it becomes a regular tree.

3. What happens if I bury 99,000 Bells?

Burying 99,000 Bells can be risky. There is a 70% chance you will receive 30,000 Bells, and a 30% chance you’ll receive 3x 99,000 Bells (297,000 Bells). However, it’s not recommended due to the high risk of getting just 30,000 Bells and losing a large sum.

4. Should I bury more than 10,000 Bells?

It’s generally not advisable to bury more than 10,000 Bells if your main objective is to profit reliably. The risk of getting a reduced payout outweighs the potential reward.

5. Can I move a money tree?

Yes, you can dig up a money tree and replant it anywhere on your island after the sapling appears.

6. Is it possible to lose money from a money tree?

Yes, if you bury between 10,001-99,000, there is a chance of getting just 30,000 Bells, resulting in a loss of Bells.

7. What happens if I bury a shovel?

Burying a shovel in a glowing spot will not produce a money tree. If you bury a shovel after digging up the bag of Bells, and do not leave the spot, you’ll cause a golden sprout to pop out. The tree that grows will have golden leaves and not bells.

8. What is the best thing to bury for profit?

Burying **10,000 Bells** is the best way to profit reliably, guaranteeing a return of 30,000 Bells.

9. How often do glowing spots appear?

A **glowing spot** appears **once per day** on your island.

10. What if my money trees aren’t growing?

Common issues for money trees include **overwatering** or **too much sunlight** in real life. In the game, if the sapling is present, your money tree will grow within a few days.

11. Can I bury items in a glowing spot?

Yes, but only **Bells** will create a money tree. Other items will not create special sprouts.

12. What happens if I bury 100,000 Bells?

Burying 100,000 Bells has a 100% chance of only returning 90,000 Bells. You will lose 10,000 Bells from doing this.

13. What are the maximum Bells you can carry?

 You can carry **99,999 Bells** in your wallet and have fifteen 99,000-Bell bags in your inventory, bringing the grand total to a maximum of **1,584,999 Bells**.

14. What’s the difference between the golden shovel and the regular shovel for money trees?

 In Animal Crossing New Leaf, a golden shovel was required to plant a money tree. In Animal Crossing New Horizons, **a golden shovel** is not required to plant a money tree, and the shovel used doesn't make any difference to the outcome.

15. Where can I get a golden shovel?

You obtain the recipe for the **golden shovel** from Gulliver after helping him 30 times. It can then be crafted with a regular shovel and one **gold nugget.**

Conclusion

The mechanics of burying Bells for money trees adds an interesting element of risk and reward to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. While there’s always a chance for a jackpot with higher amounts, consistently burying 10,000 Bells remains the safest and most reliable method for generating extra Bells. Whether you’re a cautious investor or a daring gambler, understanding how these money trees work is crucial to becoming a successful island entrepreneur!