I now play the "controlled" game as a matter of habit. So much more fun. Used to utilize the million-dollar-florins cheat to help with this, as it allowed me to turtle up (just sit and do nothing, basically) for years... Now I don't. The challenge is to be controlled, to dominate slowly slowly slowly, working within the economic bounds of the game. It's great this way. Money is definitely a problem, but a typical tactic I now use is what I call the "viking move": I assault a rich province bordering my lands (whether it's an enemy or just simply stinking rich), have a nice big battle so I can destroy the enemy's troops and improve my general's rank and troop valor, and then raze everything to the ground... Voila: money in the bank, border enemy weakened, and I'm still basically in the same position. Note that I often set specific goals for myself, starting with a limited expansion. I don't have the patience to sit quietly with just the 3 or 4 (or whatever) starting provinces that you usually get... I work up to double my original size, or get some easily defensible borders, then do the "viking" thing till I'm ready to do more... This game is definitely more rewarding to me when I work slowly.