I cheat to take away funds for my Rags to Riches Sims, use all the build mode cheats, use cheats for my tester Sims needs when a new pack comes out, use freerealestate to house my own NPC Sims I won't be actively playing, reset when they're stuck, for story purposes in an alternate save, but never in the 'official' challenge save, etc. But I have never and will never cheat to progress any of my played Sims or for their needs, ever. I enjoy their struggles, it makes it much more satisfying when they do succeed in their little pixel lives that way. :)