Here are a few awesome articles you should check out from around the blogosphere this week. I love churning out money saving advice for you lovely people but I love reading the other perspectives out there too.

31 Reasons to Work at Craigslist by Budgets are Sexy – What are the benefits like where you work? I guarantee you they aren’t as good as the ones at Craigslist. Read and salivate. Btw, J Money (the man behind Budgets are Sexy) has a new site called Rockstar Finance. It’s kind of like my weekend reading segments but continually updated with his favorite financial advice articles. Check it out!

The 4 Types of Retirement by Afford Anything – There isn’t just one way to retire. You don’t have to save 10-15% a year and hope that you can quit your job at age 65. Paula outlines 4 different routes you can choose. I fall somewhere in the middle of a few of them. I quit my job 7 years ago to go on a 3 month road trip around the country. It was a “mini retirement” as Paula puts it. And it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

The Media Wants You to Panic About Retirement by Jason Hull – A fitting next read. There is a lot of hype out there suggesting the fear of older Americans being unable to retire, but “retirement” as we know it now is an incredibly new concept. Plus he starts the article with a Homer Simpson quote.

Defining Financial Independence by Broke Millenial – How do you define financial independence? Most people aren’t ready to go to the minimalist extreme. Most of us don’t want to work until we’re 82 either. How you define financial independence will be important to how you approach your money – and life in general.

The CFPB, probably the greatest government agency of all time, has laid down the law in an area that was much needed this week. Some major companies were forcing their employees to accept payment in the form of plastic as opposed to traditional checks. Those plastic cards came with fees upon fees. The CFPB has issued a warning against those practices. Thanks CFPB for looking out for the American people!

Life is an Acquired Taste by The Minimalists – Black coffee as a metaphor for life. Leave the excess behind. You’ll be freer and richer. Oh, you’ll have more money too. 🙂

On a non financial note. Want to see some incredible pics of a girl that grew up in Africa with wild elephants, ostriches, and lions as her best friend? Check out My Modern Met’s “The Young Girl Who’s Best Friends with African Wildlife.” Just fascinating.

On a quick personal note, I would appreciate you voting for me for a Plutus Award. I’m up for “Best New Personal Finance Blog.” It takes 3 seconds and would mean a lot to me. It’s the first category on the list. I appreciate it. I wish there was a Plutus Award for best readers. You guys and gals would win in a landslide!

[photo courtesy of Mike]