I use the free real estate cheat to move my sims into a house I built specifically for them. Usually at the start of a new household. From then on, they have to ear their money and houses.
I also use career and skills cheats for households that should already be established. It makes sense to me that an adult couple with kids (teen and under) should have gained some parenting skills, as well as skills for their careers.
I'm more likely to have my single young adult sims struggle a bit more than established families. Not to say established families don't struggle, but it seems like they'd be a little more likely to bounce back, so to speak.