money problem

Try to get as many trade routes and space resources as possible. Other than that, build space stations around your planets.

I'm sure the more experienced and...technical players have lots of in deapth stuff but here are a few things that help me.

Dont buy things on credit after the early start.

Sell ships, i do this quite a bit, the AI pays well for them. You cant realy base you econmy around it for various reasons but it certainly is good bang for your buck. Minor military powers will pay through the nose to get their hands on a Dreadnaught or a couple battle hammers.

Dont build every planetary improvement on every planet, this was a mayjor adjustment for me as a Alpha Centauri/Civ player.

Beware of what you build- everything has a cost except for a few rare ships/improvements. Try to focus on things that improve Planet Quality, then Economy, then Moral as needed. You'll want to develop your highest PQ planets the furthest- they're going to be your production powerhouses. Others, just keep them happy and squeeze as much economy out of them as possible, and seriously consider removing improvements you might have had in the buildup phase (like the Manufacturing Center) and let them happily produce that extra bit of cash.

On the space front, this rule is golden: "Thou shall have one starbase, and only one starbase, in a sector barring multiple resources." Starbases cost 5 credits a turn to keep running, and in the start that can be signifigant. So, follow the rule and don't build them all willy nilly, place them only where they can do the most good. This is usually Resources->Multi Planet Sectors->Single planet sectors->Trade routes. Try and combine functions whenever possible.

~SDC~

Settle the higher PQ planets first - at the begining, most of the cash you are getting is based on the PQ of the planets you colonize, not your pop, so get the better ones. (If I have a choice, I usually dont bother to settle PQ15-17 during the rush - they are backfilled later.) Put 115 on PQ16-18 planets, and 300+ on better ones if you can. On PQ15, I go as low as 1. This will maximize the bc per pop you get.

Build Soil Enrichment, Habitat, and Banking asap (they cost no maintenance, and bring in more cash - do them first)

Upgrade your government ASAP (remember +20% eco for each government upgrade!), and it costs no maintenance.

Be cautious with your military units - recent upgrades make starbases cost 5perturn, and scouts 1perturn - EXPENSIVE! (I don't begrudge the bigger military units, but beware those scouts.)


~SDC~

don't forget to check ur taxes and spending level frequently in the game.