The Power of Ten Dynasty lends itself to small households, as well, which I also prefer: Founder or heir, spouse, and one child is all you ever need.
My strategy for the Immortal Dynasty was once the Sims were elders and had eaten their first ambrosia, I get them a 5-day a week job with longish hours. This was after I didn’t need them for fishing angelfish. I saved the Business career for this purpose. On weekends, I would sometimes take them “on vacation” to Selvadora or Granite Falls and leave them there while switching back to the Dynasty house to play my heir. I got everyone on the same schedule for eating ambrosia so I didn’t have to individually keep track of who was getting close. When they were just at home, I had them tend the garden or just free range. They also did a lot of yoga so they could meditate.