I don’t really min/max profit too much when I play, so I might not be the best person to ask, but I’ll try to give you some things to consider!

For year 1 (not year 2) Spring, I’ve seen a lot of people suggest either parsnips or potatoes. Parsnips get you farming XP faster–plus you get gold star turnips for the community center–but potatoes are higher profit per plant, so you won’t have as many energy issues trying to water everything. Also, you might want to save up some money for the Egg Festival…

Btw, fishing can be a good source of fast cash, if you don’t mind the fishing mechanic.

Don’t worry, time doesn’t affect the Joja/community center thing. You’re good to do it at your own pace.

Glad to help! Hope you enjoy it.

If you’re having fun, you’re doing what you should be. If you’re getting bored, however, and you’re past Spring 5, there’s a couple of things you might have missed:

• You should have a quest or two in your log to give you a goal or two. Not sure what the button to open the quest log is on switch, but there should be one.
• Some days, the Help Wanted board outside Pierre’s will have a villager request you can do. You won’t be able to do all the requests at this point, and they do have a 2 day time limit, but the money and friendship are nice early on.
• Have you been checking your mail? You should have gotten a letter asking you to come by a place. ::: spoiler Willy’s fish shop :::
• Also in the mail: you should have gotten a notice that a new area has opened up. ::: spoiler the mine :::
• Enter town from the bus stop between 8am and 1pm on a non-rainy day for an important cutscene. If you’ve already seen it, but don’t know how to progress, make sure to look around inside, especially at shiny things. ::: spoiler the community center :::