What do you need gold for? Anything you want can be shoplifted or pickpocketed.
That is, if you have no moral qualms about that sort of thing... You don't even have to put points in it. I brought Myles' pickpocket skill from like 25 to around 80 in about an hour and a half (with saves and reloads). The higher up you are, the easier it gets, (less reloads). Save after every 3 successful steals or so.