The week's best financial advice

Here are three of the week's top pieces of financial advice, gathered from around the web:

Affordable mental health care

"When you're in an emotional crisis, the last thing you need is to worry about a bill from a therapist or counselor," said Susan Johnston Taylor at US News. Unfortunately, nearly half of Americans who need mental health services say cost is one of the biggest reasons they haven't sought treatment. Affordable options do exist, however. Some local community centers offer free counseling for victims of sexual assault, domestic abuse, or other trauma. If you live near a college that trains mental health professionals, you may be able to see a student trainee at a reduced rate. Group therapy and online or telephone counseling are affordable alternatives as well. And don't be afraid to try negotiating a lower price. Some therapists charge on a sliding scale based on income.

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Tapping retirement accounts early

A growing number of Americans are raiding their retirement accounts for nonretirement expenses, said Mark Miller at Reuters. Nearly 18 percent of 401(k) plan participants had loans outstanding last year, compared with 15 percent in 2008, according to the Investment Company Institute. Plan sponsors aren't required to allow such early withdrawals, but the vast majority of them do. Even so, "401(k) accounts are not designed as piggy banks." Workers typically have five years to pay off a loan of up to $50,000 from their 401(k). But the penalty for default is steep, with a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty, plus taxes owed on the outstanding balance. Hardship withdrawals, which come with similar penalties, should also be a "last-resort measure."

New windows: A good investment?

"There are many good reasons to replace your old windows," said Josh Garskof at Time. Modern dual-paned windows are less drafty, easier to clean, and more energy efficient. But don't think that they'll pay for themselves. Because windows make up only a fraction of a building's exterior, new windows produce only about 5 to 15 percent total energy savings. At $300 to $1,500 or more per replacement window, and with the average homeowner paying about $1,000 a year to heat and cool a home, it could take you decades to earn back your investment. Window restoration is much cheaper — $100 to $350 per window — and can be just as effective. With improvements like new glazing and weather stripping, "the old windows may wind up nearly as efficient as brand-new ones."