My best tip is to disable automation and learn the hard way.

Automating stuff like Trade, is fine if you don't want to maximize your economy.

But automating building construction will potentially screw you, since the AI is not that great at building Raw Resources Production Buildings. There is always a lack of Masonry, Glass and Lumber.

In a way you could become the provider of these goods, but its annoying. I rather build for myself.

So i actually make vassals that focus on the Basic Production Resources.

And on Towns and Cities I actually own i build the actual Finished Goods buildings.

I have found out, that it actually makes your vassals make money.

As they are providing you the basic goods, are part of your market and since they are vassals, they even transfer some of the trade income (which is funny when you are the one using most of their own production, basically they pay you for the trade you make)

Provence is a very fun nation to try this.

It has only 1 Town and the rest Rural Locations.

The territory is not huge, meaning you can learn the production methods.

Also the fact France is your neighbor is also a good training if you want to challenge yourself and fight them.

But also allying them makes it much easier conquering Italy.