Top Frugal Articles Of The Week (7/20/13)

I’m reading about personal finance and frugality all the time on this journey to a debt-free life. Finding new content and approaches to frugal questions and budgeting issues is one of my favorite things to do. Every week, I want to share with you the top frugal articles. This is a collection and brief summary of what I found this week:

1. Some Thoughts on the McDonalds “Budget” by The Simple Dollar
   Trent from The Simple Dollar takes aim at a popular personal finance blunder by McDonalds. A budgeting company sponsored by McDonalds showed a table showing the take-home pay of an employee (a scary $1100), and devised a spending plan that didn’t include necessities like food. Trent posed some new perspectives to the questions of making this budget work. Instead of attacking the so-called “budget,” he decided to use the opportunity to explain why this is a good start and sheds light on what employees need to work on from here.
2. Why You Should Not Retire Early by Financial Samurai
   Sam slices through the perils of poor personal finance to give his readers tremendous advice. He’s one of the strongest, most consistent bloggers in the community and this article is a keeper. Early retirement and the thrill of saving a solid nest egg is frequently the focus for personal finance gurus. Sam suggests working longer and continuing to contribute to our society through income taxes, if we can.
3. Save Money While Staying Cool (Video) by The Cheap Life
   This may not be an article, but this has some of the best advice for staying cool on a budget. Whether it’s fans, ice, cold drinks, or cooking outside, Jeff shows you some fun and easy ways to beat the heat. The Cheap Life is sponsored by AARP and may be a bit cheesy, but it definitely does the trick. Turn off your AC and still get cool!
   
4. The Bizarre World of Bitcoin Speculation by Money Under 30
   David over at Money Under 30 tackles a difficult financial subject: Bitcoin. He touches upon the bubble and rush of excitement behind this nascent, digital currency. As the currency catches on, you’ll be able to buy anything you could with cash or card; at least that’s what speculators hope.