I feel bad for Tom Nook, he has this reputation of a heartless capitalist who hooks you on debt but all in all his terms are... pretty fair? He gives a house and let you pay it on your time (or never at all) and pretty much let you pay him with random shit you pick on the floor.

And because I know someone will point Nook don't sell food, I believe the villagers are unable to shake the trees to catch that tasty, tasty fruit so the player is an essential part of the village food chain by selling fruit to Nook who'll distribute it to the shaking-disabled animals.