You can earn money through completing quests and battles normally. However, if you are looking to specifically earn you can go the route that it seems you are going now which is through skills and crafts. Those are a bit more tedious and take more time, but are possible if you want to do it. With my character I'm working on building a merchant network to make money, so there's that kinda thing as well. It really is up to you how you want to approach it and what you think is best. =)