I love the Virtual Families Games (VF1/2) so I thought I'd share some tips for you.

CURING ILLNESSES AND MEDICINES NEEDED
Sore throat, throat doesn't feel right, groaning noise - Throat Lozenges
Stomachache, stomach hurting, moaning - Peptic Syrup
Sneezing, Allergys - Antihistamine (you'll frequently need this when the allergy season comes)
Itchy, rash - Cortisone cream
Whooping cough, coughing, can't stop coughing - Antitussive syrup

**Do NOT waste your money on the doctors appointments unless they're illness is persistant or they got sick again straight after taking medicine. If the doctors tell you that you have to give them one of the antibiotics (Penicillin or Vancomycin) it's good to have some sleeping pills to help them relax. Give them the sleeping pills straight after they take the illness and let them sleep until their energy bars are up.

***One illness can spread like wildfire in this game. A useful tip is to make sure there are no more than 2 beds in each bedroom. If two people share a bed (usually adults) this is even better. If they are kept separate from each other in terms of bedrooms, the illness shouldn't spread as much.

KEEPING THEM FED
1000 units of food isn't really needed unless you know your going to be away from the gave for more than 12 hours. 400 units of food is ideal. Another thing...ORGANIC FOODS DO NOT MAKE YOU HEALTHIER! A variety does, but the effect is so minimal it isn't worth it either. So just buy the 20 coin bag of grains. Also, do not let them make meals unless their status is "Hungry" or "Starving". Lastly, don't let them look for snacks or heat up food, ESPECIALLY at night. Scold them or try using trick candies to prevent them from doing this ;)

MAKING CHILDREN BEHAVE:
Buying the appropriate toys can distract the children from doing anything naughty. Things like throwing rocks, tearing books, snacking, playing in the toilet, heating up food, banging dishes, drawing on the wall, etc. should be scolded. However, if they are doing things like playing quietly, drawing, etc. praise them. This can also prevent their energy bars going down. When your child turns 14, they will start doing things like projects for school and homework. You should DEFINITELY praise these things or use candy. Another thing, SENDING THE KIDS TO BOARDING SCHOOL REALLY ISN'T WORTH IT!!! You'll start to miss your child. If your planning on sending the kid, do it when they're about 3 or 4 years old. Mind, you won't get to see them grow up :(

DEPRESSION
The difficulty in curing depression can vary. However, using the Psychotherapy should DEFINITELY be your last option, especially for the children. Buying things like new furniture, candies and toys wouldn't add up to the price of Psychotherapy. For children, let them play as much as possible (NOT things like throwing rocks, of course) letting them play quietly helps a lot and can bring up their energy bars. Things like tickling, stories and DVDs also help them. Both the adults and the children should be well fed. Don't let the adults work unless it's ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. They're career progress goes up when your not playing the game.

WHAT NOT TO BUY:
The carousel - Yes, it looks fantastic. But it doesn't do anything!
Towels - You can't use them.
Soap - Yes there pretty. No, you can't use them.
Plants- They are just decorations. They don't do anything.
Coffee or Dining room tables - You can't use them.
Paintings - They are VERY expensive and very pretty. Not only that, you can achieve a goal if you put one up. However, one of the game events that will more than likely occur is that you receive a package that is addressed to your neighbor. If you open the package, it's almost always a painting, which you can keep. I once got a painting worth 13,150 coins addressed to my neighbor. I earned a goal and didn't even have to spend anything. So never, NEVER, buy the paintings.

OTHER:

Don't bother too much with the furniture in your first generation. I know that sounds boring, but the first generation is when you should save up for your second. The furniture looks better and you can actually USE it. On your first generation, the only things you'll need to buy are a used couch and a bed. Don't buy these from the store, wait for them to go on sale. By your 3rd generation, you'll have bought better quality furniture and you can sell your old ones. Just drag it to the gate and let it go.
You shouldn't pay much attention to the bank statements. If your a person that sells collectibles online a lot, you should be making around 150-300 extra coins a day anyway.
Selling collectibles REALLY helps. If you drag two people on top of each other at the same time
(it can be difficult) then both of them will have the item and you can get double the money! :D
If you've got a maid, don't bother picking up the wrappers unless your SURE she won't show up.
Lastly, DON'T KILL THEM!!! Using the antibiotics to kill them really doesn't work. It just makes them weak and can get very annoying. Look after your little people, and if you know you can't, PAUSE THE GAME!