The Friday Feast ~ the 26th of August

The personal finance community is filled with so many talented writers and inspiring families in search of something better out of life than the traditional society-approved plan of buying lots of stuff and retiring in your 60s if you're lucky.

Here is a look at the best of this week's personal finance blogs.

In this episode of Friday Feast: Budget Bloggess, Retire Before Dad, Long Haul Trekkers, Money Commando, Million Dollar Journey, Fruclassity, The Simple Dollar, Stacking Dollars, Red Two Green and Financially Alert.

Welcome to another Friday, and congrats for making it here. Half way through August already and less than a week from our vacation to the higher altitudes of Colorado. Can hardly wait. Prepare yourselves for epic pictures (hopefully!).

Now, onto the personal finance gems!

First, Budget Bloggess writes about making the choice to live a simple life. "It’s baffling to me that day after day, so many of us make the conscious decision to live outside our means and choose debt as a way of life."

Next, check out Retire Before Dad's strangely awesome post about nude selfies of personal finance.

My favorite post of the week

My favorite post this week comes from Long Haul Trekkers who argues an important point: Why you should quit your job.

"As a product of the United States, I was taught that my identity is defined by my success. If I put my head down and do well in school, good things will come to me. I will achieve the “American Dream," he wrote.

But, what if that "American Dream" comes at the cost of our very livelihoods? "Here is another bubble buster for you old hat traditionalists; there is no guarantee that you’ll even live to retirement."

People are working themselves into the ground. Obesity continues to plague Americans, perhaps in part due to our workaholic nature in pursuit of some dream. "Quitting your job is the first step in changing your path."

More from the personal finance community

Money Commando asks an important question that has been on my mind for, well, since I went to college: Is it worth it?

Million Dollar Journey answers an important question: You've got a million bucks? Cool, what next?

Also, Fruclassity delivers an interesting message about finding motivation when things are on autopilot in your life.

Lastly, The Simple Dollar published a post filled with numbers that suggest how shitty most Americans are with handling money.

Honorable mentions: Stacking Dollars has officially cut the cord, Red Two Green made a cool $3,000 selling stuff around the house, and lastly, Financially Alert teaches us how to construct a million-dollar mindset from scratch.

Photo of the week

This is one of my favorite shots from our trip to San Francisco, CA over the winter of last year. Seagulls even love the views of water and bridges out there!

Coming up in the week ahead on ThinkSaveRetire: On Monday, I'm revealing the 7 dumbest things that I've ever said about personal finance, and on Wednesday I'm talking about why my wife and I don't need to be millionaires before calling it quits.

Thanks for reading, and cheers to another financially productive week ahead!