NUMBER 1 - never ever cheat in a game - i refuse to even watch those kind of videos. What is the point of ruining the work ethic factor ? No satisfaction can be had then.
I found gold very easy to come by so far - maybe thats because i focused on smithing/chanting/alchemy. I just worked the system collecting crap loads of alchemy reagents in my travels/dungeons as well as basic loot. Then improve it/chant it/make potions all leveling your skill at the same time. Then go to various shops and buy everything you need - armors, ingots, reagents whatever. then sell the merchants your stuff and get your gold back.
I got an awesome +20 haggle/+10 speaking mask from some quest in Falk early on and wear a +20 barter necklace and also you can use the ANVIL blessing to get an additional 10% better prices. Use a potion too on expensive stuff. The more stuff you buy the more your speech levels as well further changing the prices in your favor.
I currently have 132,000 gold, 3 houses fully fitted, full suits of every good armor, crates of potions i made worth 500-2000g each, barrels of ingredients for more, chests full of random enchanted loot worth prolly another 100k if i had an easy way to sell it - and dont get me started on all the stolen crap i have. Some trading shops are littered with my random crap to the point you cant see the floor anymore.
Anyways - I almost wish it was harder - but even tho I have all the gold i need, I still love the game because I earned it all legit.