The Friday Feast ~ the 9th of September

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: Believe In a Budget, Financial Mentor, Simple Is The New Green, Retire Happy, Millenial Revolution, Physician On Fire, Money Mini Blog, Cashville Skyline, Roger Whitney and Young and Thrifty.

Welcome to another Friday, and congrats for making it here. We are back from our wonderful escape to the cooler temperatures of Colorado and ready to plow through the last remaining months of full-time work.

Now, onto the personal finance gems!

First, Believe In a Budget writes about how she plans on transitioning from a regular employee in corporate America to a freelancer.

Next, check out Financial Mentor's 12 tips to build wealth for early retirement.

My favorite post of the week

My favorite post this week comes from Simple Is The New Green who gave us an excellent post [last year] about climbing DOWN the corporate ladder.

"Here is what many people experience when they think they want to climb up the corporate ladder: fierce competition, working ungodly hours, office politics, soul-sucking cubicles, creativity-crushing rules and loss of interest in their work."

Spot on. I experienced a very similar phenomenon shortly before I quit my corporate ladder climbing. The politics are more severe. The hours are longer and the stress is more taxing on your health.

"So, with a small amount of investing, a healthy emergency fund and simple living, people are learning to jump off the corporate ladder to pursue more meaningful work."

And whatever you call it - early retirement or "career jumping", choosing happiness over money or fame is something that I can definitely admire.

More from the personal finance community

Retire Happy offers up some sage advice: Picture yourself in retirement long before you retire.

Millenial Revolution put together a post about how to let...the government fund your retirement?

Also, Physician On Fire talks about money, achievement, fame and suicidal ideation.

Lastly, Money Mini Blog published a list of 25 blogs that you need in your life.

Honorable mentions: Cashville Skyline asks if we're so fascinated by frugality, why aren't we saving?, Roger Whitney explains why the financial services industry is freaking out, and lastly, Young and Thrifty gives us 10 financial tips for newlyweds.

Photo of the week

We hiked the few miles up to Loch Vale in Rocky Mountain National Park last week. At an elevation of over 10,000 feet, this was by far the most beautiful body of water we saw in the park. Beautiful wilderness, calm and crisp water and stunningly green trees made this one hell of a hike.

Coming up in the week ahead on ThinkSaveRetire: On Monday, I'm talking about how shorter work weeks might not solve our collective problem with work-a-holism. And on Wednesday, let's chat about how to become one successful mo-fo.

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