If you want to breeze through the game - just upgrade your pistol to max and keep holding till you can afford best shotgun. All other money invest in scavengers and assistant, upgrading motel when necessary. You will have tons of money and zero problems after level 35 or so.
Too much damage/repairs, also i think it was bad idea to add "bad" prizes, you loose concentration trying to avoid bullets, while deciding whether to pick it up or no.