I've dealt with resource management quite a bit and the trick is knowing exactly when to use your stuff. The key is to constantly cycle through your materials, where youll want to craft and upgrade whenever possible especially during those tense assault encounters. Finding the right moments between combat waves is crucial, and you should always check under objects or smash those vending machines for extra supplies.

When youre at the hideout, make sure to hit the workbench and trading post right after each encounter, since thats your perfect window to optimize everything. Keep an eye on your weapon scraps and supplements, but dont sit on them too long - having better weapons and skills now is way more valuable than saving for later. If youre doing the roguelike stuff, its actually super important to manage resources between rounds, like buying health kits to save your crafting materials for molotovs and other tactical gear.

The smartest approach is staying active with your resources, breaking those windows to reach new areas and always checking those spots that look a bit suspicious. Remember, the game wants you using stuff regularly not hoarding it all for some perfect moment that might never come.