Let me try and help. Not because I am an expert, I've only be playing it for almost 10 days with limited time. But after getting PhD in "Starving to death", and Nobel prize for my contribution to Cholera studies, these are the little tricks that help me a lot: 1. If you spawn near the coast, walk a big distance on the coastline and look in, under and near the boats. You will find hooks, soft drinks, dry bag and others. 2. Try to kill zombies when they are alone even without melee weapons , then check them they often have soft drinks and canned food. 3. Walk in the middle of the railroad. You will see some stones that stand out in the middle. Take the first, when you find the second combine them and craft a Stone knife 4. Make fire without matches. Using the stone or other knife cut bark from the tree. Combine short stick and rag for fireplace, bark and another shortstick for hand drill. The two crafted items can start a fire. Use longsticks to cook the chicken , fish , etc on them 5. Hydration: Soft drinks, Kvass are safe. Bottle or canteen of water, stream = 50% Cholera Chance. Empty them and fill from pump for safe water or add chorline tablets. Drink direct from Pump only with clean hands (not bloodied, then you have to wash them first). Fruit and veggies help with hydration as well. 6. Orient yourself and use Izurvive or other map Hope you learned something you didn't know and it can help. After I learned these I finally have a character that can survive day to day.