 |
| Graveyard Keeper Early Game Money |
Learn the best Graveyard Keeper early game money strategies, including burial certificates, farming, church income, and smart selling tips for fast progress.
If you’re struggling with graveyard keeper early game money, you’re not alone. Graveyard Keeper is intentionally slow and punishing at the start, and the game gives you very little guidance on how to earn coins efficiently. The good news? Once you understand the economy, early money stops being a problem. This guide breaks down the most reliable, beginner-friendly ways to earn money early, without exploits, cheats, or late-game systems.
This article is purely informational, designed to help new and returning players stabilize their income, unlock key technologies faster, and avoid common beginner traps.
Why Early Game Money Is So Important in Graveyard Keeper
In the early hours, money controls almost everything:
- Unlocking key technologies
- Buying permits, seeds, and tools
- Progressing NPC questlines
- Accessing new crafting chains
Unlike many farming or life-sim games, Graveyard Keeper doesn’t reward random selling. Vendors have limited demand, prices fluctuate, and selling the wrong item at the wrong time can permanently slow your progress.
Understanding the economy early saves hours of frustration later.
How the Early Game Economy Actually Works
Before jumping into money methods, you need to understand how Graveyard Keeper’s economy behaves.
Vendor Demand Is Limited
Each NPC only buys specific items, and their prices drop if you oversell. Flooding the market kills profit.
Reputation Matters
NPC relationship levels unlock better trades and higher prices over time.
Time Is a Resource
Some money methods are fast but inefficient long-term. Others scale well later.
The goal of graveyard keeper early game money is not to get rich instantly, but to create stable income loops.
1. Selling Burial Certificates (The Foundation of Early Money)
This is the first and most important income source.
Every time you properly bury a body, you receive a Burial Certificate, which can be sold to the Tavern Keeper (Horadric).
Why Burial Certificates Matter
- Guaranteed income
- No vendor price drop
- Directly tied to story progression
How to Maximize Burial Certificate Value
- Repair graves before burial
- Remove blood and fat (when unlocked)
- Avoid cremation early unless required
Each certificate gives 1 silver 50 copper, which is huge in the early game.
Pro tip: Never skip burials early. Cremation becomes valuable later, not now.
2. Farming Crops for Early Profits (Done the Right Way)
Farming can be profitable early, but only if you avoid common mistakes.
Best Early Crops to Sell
- Carrots → Sold to the Farmer
- Wheat → Used for beer and bread later
- Beets → Required for quests and cooking
Carrots are the safest early option because:
- Low seed cost
- Fast growth
- Consistent demand
Farming Mistakes to Avoid
- Selling all your seeds
- Ignoring fertilizer quality
- Overproducing one crop
Farming alone won’t make you rich, but it creates steady background income, which is critical for early progression.
3. Stone, Iron, and Simple Crafting (Low Risk, Low Effort)
Basic materials are easy money if sold sparingly.
Items Worth Selling Early
- Simple iron parts
- Stone grave fences
- Wooden repair kits
Sell only what vendors demand. Overloading the blacksmith will tank prices fast.
Where This Method Shines
- When waiting for crops to grow
- While unlocking technologies
- When stamina is limited
This method pairs well with burial certificates for daily income balance.
4. Church Services: The First Real Money Spike
Once you unlock the church, income changes completely.
Why Church Services Are Critical
- Weekly income burst
- Scales with sermon quality
- Improves faith generation
Even a basic sermon generates silver early.
How to Improve Church Income Fast
- Repair benches and confessionals
- Upgrade graveyard rating
- Use combo prayers when unlocked
If you’re unsure how to optimize this system, check our Graveyard Keeper beginner progression guide (internal link), which explains faith, sermons, and graveyard ratings step by step.
5. Crafting Grave Decorations (High Value, Low Cost)
Grave decorations are often overlooked early, but they serve two purposes:
- Increase graveyard rating
- Can be sold for profit
Best Early Decorations to Craft
- Stone grave fences
- Wooden grave markers
Sell only excess decorations. Keeping some boosts your weekly church income, which compounds long-term profit.
6. NPC Quests That Pay (Do These Early)
Several NPCs provide direct or indirect financial rewards.
Priority NPCs for Early Money
- Horadric (Tavern Keeper) – Unlocks trading and quests
- Farmer – Seeds, produce, and trade access
- Bishop – Church access and upgrades
Completing quests early unlocks better selling options and avoids progression bottlenecks.
For official mechanics and NPC breakdowns, the Graveyard Keeper Wiki provides verified, developer-aligned information on questlines and economics.
7. Fishing for Early Silver (Situational but Powerful)
Fishing is not mandatory, but it can generate quick silver if done correctly.
Best Early Fish to Sell
- Goldfish (quest-related)
- Common river fish
Fishing shines when:
- You’re waiting on cooldowns
- You need quick cash for a permit
It’s not the most efficient long-term strategy, but it’s useful early if stamina allows.
8. What NOT to Sell in the Early Game
This is where most beginners destroy their economy.
Never Sell These Early
- Technology books
- Faith-related items
- Crafting materials needed for quests
- Rare body parts
Selling these creates long-term setbacks that cost more to fix than the money gained.
Smart Daily Money Routine (Beginner-Optimized)
If you want consistency, follow this loop:
- Process bodies → Sell burial certificates
- Tend crops → Sell excess produce
- Craft basic items → Sell selectively
- Complete NPC quests
- Attend weekly church service
This routine stabilizes graveyard keeper early game money without burnout.
How Early Game Money Transitions Into Mid-Game Wealth
Early money is about survival. Mid-game money is about scaling.
Once you unlock:
- Better sermons
- Wine and beer production
- Advanced crafting chains
Money becomes abundant. The early phase simply sets the foundation.
For players interested in long-term optimization, the official Graveyard Keeper Steam page provides developer updates and patch notes that explain balance changes affecting the economy.
Common Early Game Money Myths (Debunked)
“You should sell everything early.”
Wrong. Overselling destroys vendor prices.
“Farming is the best early income.”
Partially false. It’s supportive, not primary.
“Church is optional.”
Completely false. Church income is essential.
Want Faster Progress Without Trial and Error?
If you want step-by-step systems, optimized builds, and zero guesswork, explore our complete Graveyard Keeper beginner strategy hub (internal link). It covers tech trees, faith optimization, and money scaling in depth.
Final Thoughts: Mastering Graveyard Keeper Early Game Money
Mastering graveyard keeper early game money isn’t about grinding harder—it’s about playing smarter. Burial certificates, controlled farming, church services, and selective selling form a stable economy that carries you smoothly into mid-game dominance.
Once you stop fighting the system and start using it, the game opens up fast.
Next step: Optimize your church and graveyard rating to double your weekly income.
