So go get some more . . . or buy them back.
FYI - Making money in this game isn't any great challenge, even in the early game - and it's hardly the "grind" that some players complain about.
Basic Trading strategies: Buy low, sell high. Pay attention to who has the valuable stuff, and who will pay the most for it, at the lowest cost to you for arranging the transfer. If you have the Trade Missions unlocked, note that some of them really don't pay very well for the time and commodities required. If you don't have the Bot Lab unlocked, you have no use for Bot Crates unless you sell them.
Example (Early Game): Heading for the High Yield Asteroids and get random encounter with a Trader - Buy all the Duranium Plating you can afford / carry, and return immediately to Iltari Station to sell it for a 50% profit, while your cost is 2 hours time and 700c (Trade and docking fees). Return to the asteroids by 15:00, and you still can complete the mission.
Don't waste cargo capacity by carrying crates and or items you don't really need - because everything literally weighs a ton - so open liquor crates immediately (the contents go into your personal inventory with no weight penalty) and then use that for unexpected expenses. If you unlocked the Bot Lab, open Bot Crates immediately; then scrap excess Gen 1 or Gen 2 parts (after repairing them for the XP) or assemble "junk" bots to auction at Iltari Station or the Pirate Base.
Upgraded your Engine? Don't forget to sell the old one. Trader has a Shield or Weapon you don't need? You can still sell it for profit. Carrying spare parts for repairs? Store them on a sub-system you haven't maxxed out yet.