Penny is one of the 12 marriage candidates in Stardew Valley. She lives with her mother Pam in a small trailer east of Pelican Town, spends her free time reading, and tutors Jas and Vincent at the museum on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Her birthday is Fall 2, a key date to keep in mind.
You can give her up to 2 gifts per week, plus one on her birthday for a massive 8x friendship bonus.
Penny's Loved Gifts
These give the highest friendship boost (+80 points, or +640 on her birthday).
| Gift | How to Get |
|---|---|
| Melon | Grow in Summer (Pierre's, 80g seeds) |
| Poppy | Grow in Summer (Pierre's, 100g seeds) |
| Poppyseed Muffin | Cook: Poppy + Sugar + Flour |
| Red Plate | Cook: Red Cabbage + Radish |
| Roots Platter | Cook: Winter Root + Cave Carrot |
| Tom Kha Soup | Cook: Coconut + Shrimp + Common Mushroom (recipe from Sandy) |
| Sandfish | Fish in the Desert, 6am-8pm |
| Emerald | Found in Mines (80+) or Geodes |
| Diamond | Found in Mines (50+) or Gem Nodes |
| Any Book | Found in treasure chests, the Bookseller, skill books from levels, etc. |
| Pearl | Mermaid's Pearl event or Willy's shop |
| Golden Pumpkin | Spirit's Eve festival reward |
| Prismatic Shard | Omni Geodes, Iridium nodes, rare drops |
| Magic Rock Candy | Dwarf shop |
| Stardrop Tea | Crafted with tea leaves |
Tip: Best early-game strategy. Plant Poppies in Summer Year 1, they're cheap, she loves them, and you can craft a Poppyseed Muffin from the same crop. That's two loved gifts from one plant. Dandelions (forageable in Spring) are a solid liked gift before Summer arrives.
Penny's Liked Gifts
Liked gifts give +45 friendship points. Penny has a very wide liked range, which makes her one of the easier villagers to befriend in the game.
- All vegetables (except Hops, Tea Leaves, Unmilled Rice, Wheat)
- All flowers (except Poppy, which she loves)
- All gems (Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ruby, Topaz, Jade, etc.)
- All artisan goods (except Oil and Void Mayonnaise), so Jelly, Pickles, Honey, Truffle Oil, Cloth, etc.
- Almost all cooked dishes (except Bread, Fried Egg, Seafoam Pudding, Strange Bun)
- All Milk, Dandelion, Leek, Maple Syrup, Rainbow Shell, Life Elixir, Treasure Chest, All Artifacts
Tip: Museum donations. Once you've donated an artifact to the museum, extra copies have no value there. Penny likes all artifacts, they're a free and easy friendship boost.
Disliked and Hated Gifts
Disliked (avoid): Purple Mushroom, Red Mushroom, Quartz, Duck Feather, Wool, Salmonberry, Cave Carrot, most raw fish (Walleye, Tuna, Salmon, etc.), most ores and farm supplies.
Hated (never give):
- All alcohol: Beer, Wine, Pale Ale, Mead, Pina Colada
- Hops, Grape, Holly
- Rabbit's Foot (she's one of the few who hate this universal love)
- Joja Cola, Strange Bun, Seafoam Pudding, Carp, Snail, Sugar, Sap, and most "junk" items
Penny grew up with an alcoholic mother. Giving her any alcohol would ruin your friendship significantly, don't do it, even by accident.
Where to Find Penny (Schedule Overview)
Knowing her routine saves time on gift delivery.
Tue / Wed / Fri: Tutoring Jas and Vincent at the Museum, 9am-3pm.
Mon / Thu / Sun: Around the trailer or reading near the graveyard in the morning; near the Saloon or with Maru in the evenings.
Saturday: At the Pelican Town playground watching the kids play.
Rainy days: Inside the trailer or at the Museum.
Winter: Mostly indoors. On Winter 4, she visits Harvey's clinic.
Fastest way to find her: If you're short on time, catch her at the Museum during school days (Tue/Wed/Fri). She's stationary for several hours.
How to Raise Friendship Fast
- Give 2 gifts per week, always. Don't waste your weekly slots.
- Talk to her every day. Daily conversation adds a small amount, and it resets each morning.
- Never miss Fall 2. A loved gift on her birthday = 8x points. Mark it in-game.
- Complete her heart events, they don't cost a gift but are required for marriage.
Heart Event Summary:
- 2 hearts: George's mailbox scene
- 4 hearts: You help clean the trailer
- 6 hearts: She serves you a meal she's proud of
- 8 hearts: She takes the kids on a nature lesson
- 10 hearts: Confession at the spa
- 14 hearts (post-marriage): Bedroom makeover
To propose, reach 10 hearts, have a house upgrade (bedroom), and give her a Mermaid's Pendant (bought from the Old Mariner on a rainy day at the beach).
After Marriage
Once Penny moves in, she occasionally waters crops, feeds animals, and gifts you breakfast dishes in the morning. She gets a reading nook added to your farmhouse and her dialogue becomes warmer and more personal. You can also have children with her.
Quick-Reference: Best Gifts by Availability
| When | Best Gift | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Year 1 | Dandelion (foraged) | Free, liked, no effort |
| Summer Year 1 | Poppy (grown) | Loved, cheap seeds, reusable |
| Summer Year 1 | Melon (grown) | Loved, easy to farm |
| Any time | Cooked dish (any) | Almost all liked |
| Any time | Spare gem from mines | All gems are liked |
| Spare artifact | Museum duplicate | Liked, otherwise useless |
| Endgame | Diamond or Prismatic Shard | Loved, max points |
The main things to remember about Penny:
What is Penny's absolute favorite gift?
Poppy. It's a loved gift, available in Summer Year 1 from Pierre's for 100g seeds, easy to mass-produce, and can
be used to craft her other loved gift, the Poppyseed Muffin.
Does Penny like the Rabbit's Foot?
No, she hates it. Most villagers love it, but Penny is an exception.
What does Penny hate most?
Alcohol (Beer, Wine, Pale Ale, Mead). Given her backstory with her mother Pam, this is intentional game design.
Can you give Penny a book?
Yes, she loves all books. These include skill books found in treasure chests, books sold by the Bookseller (who
appears randomly), and reward books from any progression unlock.
When is Penny's birthday?
Fall 2. Give a loved gift that day for 8x the normal friendship points.
