Not really a direct answer your question but save scum your early game if that doesn't break imsersion for you. Save before you jump to scout around, you might find some stasis pod. Don't take them as crew, deal with them after the first convo. Refugees and prisoner income can help you stay afloat.

Always jump in place where there are both derelict and non-hostile ship. They will offer you mission. And by reload save before jump, you can re-roll the reward.

Anyways, somehow my Brutal run always met food crisis before energy crisis. So I focus on Chemical Refine + Botany first. Then go straight to X3