Two tips:

El Cid
For some reason it's easier (cheaper) to bribe El Cid after two years than in year 1. Another option is to attack him with a unit of vanilla spearmen and say, one or two of archers to thin his jinettes down and then withdraw. That will lower the cost. Bribing El Cid in anything above normal will put you in a hard financial position for many years and has to be chosen carefully.

Crusades
It takes more building up because the Spanish build up Castille rather than Leon but buiding your crusades in Leon gives +1 valour Santiago Knights.