(posted this in Steam Forums too but didn't know if I should use these instead here?)

Okay so 30 or 40 turns in I seem to be always poor (i've tried various attempts). I try my best to catch up to the AI and put down finance districts and improvements. Usually to combat this my goal is to raise income as much as possible. Yet no matter what I do ,the costs of leaders and ship building as well as other expenses always has me down to the double and sometimes single digits. There has to be something I'm doing wrong.

In addition with the pains I'm making to build and expand. The AI somehow magically expands to ridiculous proportions which seem to be a impossibility. Given how difficult I'm having of a time gaining money. I can't possible see how they get the cash or control points to colonize so many planets so fast. They build ships super fast and already have numerous mining bases. Here I am still try to catch up with ship building turns. Some of the turn requirements at times for certain building structures are so long that the AI just stomps me as I try to catch up. I don't even have the cash to rush the buildings or constructions anywhere.

Especially with the Alterians. Holy smokes do they expand like crazy? I mean they have nearly 1/4 to 1/3 of the quadrant that I'm in.

Is the AI bonkers or perhaps I could use some tips?