Don't buy the expensive treasure finding place thing (actual name escapes me right now) until you can comfortably afford it. Build enough homes so that you have enough people to convert into units for questing. Particularly soldiers for guardians (six should be enough early on). Focus on opening new areas and getting all of the various units so you can go on money making quests on an easy and rapid pace. Those suggestion box quests are never ending so you can build up some cash doing them.
I don't think taxing has anything to do with people hating you; that comes from how successful you are in battles, if people die, and how much progress are you making in your kingdom. I think boredom of the carefree's is a factor too, but I'm not certain. And for taxing you can send in everyone in your royal guard per house, per day. You have to squeeze them all in before the next guy leaves though (I think). Taxing the royal area with a lineup of 30 is a big cash grab. :lol
There is one hand on the clock that points to the hour. The yellow bars countdown to the next hour.