I just wish Diplomacy was still being updated.
As for money, building enterprises is a good investment because it gives you weekly cash, so you aren't in danger of going into debt from a large army. Trading between towns is also handy, you just need one or two known killer routes (close together and has a good profit. Someone else could help you with that, or a Google. I don't know the vanilla routes as well.) And finally, looting villages is lucrative, just beware f lords coming by and attacking you while you're looting. And the village you loot will HATE you after, so make sure you don't care about them liking you.
You can also fight in the arena to get cash. It takes a bit of real-world time, but it has the threefold benefit of giving experience, not taking any in-game time, and helping you learn the combat system. I usually nip into the arena first-thing until I have enough cash for a worthwhile enterprise, and then use the training fields and small looter bands to level up to level 20 before recruiting in villages. Before that i just use companions, it's a bit of a waste of time to recruit guys until you can train them up quickly, which you need trainer to do and most of the good units need a trainer who is level twenty to train to without fighting.