The economy in Chimera is pretty simple at the moment. With no need for a currency yet, everything is done on a bartering system. People will trade goods and services for food and resources. It's considered that as long as you are vaguely useful around town you're doing ok and will have sufficient to eat.
Trade hasn't been established with any other towns yet (nobody has got that far and come back) but wandering traders and caravans do occasionally pass by. You're known for being relatively arable and are able to produce surplus food as well as having a well established scorpion farm, where you harvest the meat, venom and carapace.
Some materials you will encounter will also have suffered the ravages of the Glowing Sun meaning that they are less robust than others. A smart buyer always checks the wares before purchase.