If you’ve spent enough time wandering the Appalachian wasteland, you already know that Fallout 76 caps are the lifeblood of nearly every trade. From repairing gear to snagging that rare plan in a vendor’s stash, your balance can vanish fast. Most guides talk about grinding daily events or flipping items at player vendors, but there are a handful of less obvious mechanics that can help you stretch your earnings further. Here are eight overlooked ways to keep more caps in your pocket.

1. Scrap before selling
Many players rush to dump loot at vendors, but scrapping weapons and armor before selling often improves value by weight. Less junk in your stash and a slightly higher return means more caps per trip.

2. Take advantage of daily free fast travels
Every time you join a team, you can fast travel to teammates for free. Use this to save on map hopping costs, which add up quickly. The less you spend on travel, the more caps you save for essentials.

3. Farm enemies with valuable drops, not just events
Certain enemies, like mole miners or cultists, tend to carry items worth more caps when sold. Targeting them during downtime is a subtle but effective way to boost income without chasing big world events.

4. Use perks to maximize vendor profits
The Hard Bargain perk is easy to overlook, yet it consistently increases the payout from vendor sales. Keeping it slotted when offloading junk can mean hundreds of caps over a few runs.

5. Repair before selling
A damaged item often fetches fewer caps. Taking a moment to repair before selling is an investment that pays back with higher vendor prices. Even if repair kits cost something, you’ll often still come out ahead.

6. Don’t hoard ammo you never use
Ammo builds up quickly, and not every type fits your playstyle. Instead of clogging your stash, unload excess ammo at vendors or player machines. It’s a low-effort way to turn unused resources into caps.

7. Use your CAMP as a steady trickle
Set up a player vendor and stock it with small but useful items like stimpaks, ammo, and plans you don’t need. While you won’t get rich overnight, this passive income reduces the need to chase cheap Fallout 76 caps from external trades.

8. Plan your bulk trades
Vendors only buy so much per day, so make sure each trip counts. Collect a decent batch of high-value junk or gear, then offload it in one go to maximize profits. This also prevents wasting travel fees on light hauls.

These mechanics aren’t flashy, but they work in the long run. Fallout 76 is a game where efficiency pays off, and caps management is as much about saving as it is about earning. By combining a few of these overlooked tricks, you’ll notice your stash grow steadily without grinding endlessly.