I usually set up 2 planets specialized for $.  Typically i do 1 factory, 1 moral then half population/markets. After it built up i set the planet wheel to 75/25 $/M.  Note you will not be able to do this after 1.4.    Put some priority on $ techs and be sure to get tourism (free money).  Are you using govs? (don't);  what is your global wheel set to?  what difficulty level?

I second the recommendation to get tourism as soon as you can if you're having money problems.  It's been toned down a lot since the betas, back then once you got it you didn't need to worry about money at all, but it's still very much worth it.