<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>BLACK ENTERPRISE &#187; budget</title>
	<atom:link href="http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/tag/budget/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com</link>
	<description>Your Ultimate Source for Wealth Creation</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:57:27 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1</generator>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
			<item>
		<title>Ask Your Advocate: Winter Heating Bill Woes</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/2010/03/03/ask-your-advocate-winter-heating-bill-woes/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/2010/03/03/ask-your-advocate-winter-heating-bill-woes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:29:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sheiresa Ngo</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Energy Star]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[utility costs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=60111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My heating bill tends to be very high each winter. What can I do to keep costs down? 
—R. Brown Hartford, CT 
Winters can be tough on the wallet, but there are several steps you can take to keep cash in your pocket:
Request a payment plan. Ask your energy provider if it offers a level [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/2010/03/03/ask-your-advocate-winter-heating-bill-woes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cents and Sensibility</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/03/01/cents-and-sensibility/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/03/01/cents-and-sensibility/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marcia Wade Talbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=55186</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Steve and Pamela Cromity possess all the trappings of upper-middle-class comfort. They own a home in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania; a time-share in Kissimmee, Florida; and employ a nanny to care for their son and daughter, Steve III, 12, and Christina, 10. For the Cromitys, the key to the good life isn’t the couple’s annual $150,000 income, although it certainly helps. The entire family avoids impulse purchases, they say. And when they do buy something, they bargain shop. What separates Steve, Pamela, and their children from most Americans of any economic level is a strict adherence to proper money management.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/03/01/cents-and-sensibility/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Staying on Track</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/02/25/staying-on-track/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/02/25/staying-on-track/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Sheryl Nance Nash</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Women of Power Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[401k]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeownership]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=48927</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Like mother, like daughter. And that’s just fine by Dasha Lundy. Her mother taught her the importance of saving at least 10% of whatever she had.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/02/25/staying-on-track/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Super Savers</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/02/01/super-savers/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/02/01/super-savers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:48:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dale Coachman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=48940</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Newlyweds Derick Pearson and Felecia Hatcher are first-rate savers. Pearson was raised in a large family and taught the importance of saving by his aunt and uncle, Jean and Stan Kennedy. “They taught me how to budget every cent, along with saving for future expenses such as education, vacations, and emergencies,” says the 26-year-old. ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/02/01/super-savers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Boost Your Credit Score</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/boost-your-credit-score-3/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/boost-your-credit-score-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:59:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Lea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FICO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=48776</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Having the ability to obtain an affordable home loan is only one example of how it pays to have good credit. Your insurance premiums will also be lower if you have a high credit score. “An excellent credit score is 750 or higher; 680 to 740 is good. The lower 600s would be considered fair. Anything below that is poor or subprime,” says Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and consumer research for CreditCards.com.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/boost-your-credit-score-3/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Living the Frugal Life</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/living-the-frugal-life/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/living-the-frugal-life/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Glenn Townes</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chad Dion Lassiter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wanda Lassiter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=43937</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As a social worker, Philadelphia native Chad Dion Lassiter is used to encouraging people to take risks. He often pushes people to explore new ways to overcome obstacles in both their personal and professional lives. Lassiter’s view of risk-taking, however, doesn’t extend to how he handles money. He and his wife, Wanda, are careful and thrifty in their spending habits.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/living-the-frugal-life/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Ways to Reduce Debt</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/5-ways-to-reduce-debt/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/5-ways-to-reduce-debt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:10:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Leslie E. Royal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[BE Next]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit & Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt reduction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[managing debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=44100</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In 2002, Kristen Tate decided that debt free was the way to be. With a debt load of $28,000 that included student loans, credit cards, and a car note, Tate, who earned $65,000 as an account manager for a global public relations firm, began to pay triple the minimum payment of $200 each month. Tate eventually withdrew money from her savings account and paid off the balance—by 2008, she was completely debt free. Now a self-employed communications consultant, the 29-year-old says she met her goals by drawing on the values she was raised with. “My parents and grandparents stressed the importance of being financially responsible. Rather than buying everything I wanted, I lived frugally and paid down my debt. I wanted the peace of mind of knowing I didn’t owe anyone.” 		       — 
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2010/01/01/5-ways-to-reduce-debt/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Actions Speak Louder Than Words in the New Year</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/12/16/actions-speak-louder-than-words-in-the-new-year/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/12/16/actions-speak-louder-than-words-in-the-new-year/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:31:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Renita Burns</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=45529</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It feels good to have goals, doesn’t it? I mean, to really have something that you know--if you set your mind to it--is actually achievable. If you’re awaiting the new year like a lot of us are, you probably have a few things you’d like to accomplish during 2010 --  yep, those pesky resolutions. It’s no secret that for most of us, somewhere around February, these goals fall by the wayside and many of us slip back into old habits.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/12/16/actions-speak-louder-than-words-in-the-new-year/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/11/18/check-yourself-before-you-wreck-yourself/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/11/18/check-yourself-before-you-wreck-yourself/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:11:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alfred Edmond, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Black Friday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit card debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday spending]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[savings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shopping]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=43092</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Once again, it's the time of year when pressure on consumers to do their part to boost the engine of our economy begins to build. The "official" start of the holiday shopping season, November 27 (also known as Black Friday—so named because the spending beginning that weekend is expected to bring retailers from being in the red to being in the black, i.e., into profitability for the year), is just over a week away.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/11/18/check-yourself-before-you-wreck-yourself/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Live Large With Less Cash</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/2009/11/01/live-large-with-less-cash/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/2009/11/01/live-large-with-less-cash/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:55:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lauren Lea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Personal Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=40990</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Living well on a limited budget means maximizing what you get out of life for the amount of  money you spend, says blogger J.D. Roth, a contributor to the book 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget (Skyhorse Publishing; $14.95). Roth, Trent Hamm, and 18 other bloggers have written an easy-to-read guidebook about saving money, making sound investments, increasing earnings, and much more. The book’s money-saving techniques speak to a broad range of readers, from high school students to baby boomers.  ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/2009/11/01/live-large-with-less-cash/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Tools to Help You Track Your Dollars</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/10/14/tools-to-help-you-track-your-dollars/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/10/14/tools-to-help-you-track-your-dollars/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Renita Burns</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[savings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.blackenterprise.com/?p=41155</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently tested three programs, Microsoft Excel, Mint.com, and Google Docs, to find the pros and cons of each. While all of these programs have value, one was clearly a cut above the rest: Mint.com.  ]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/10/14/tools-to-help-you-track-your-dollars/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Five Ways to Cut Wedding Costs</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2009/08/05/five-ways-to-cut-wedding-costs/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2009/08/05/five-ways-to-cut-wedding-costs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:13:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alisa Gumbs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[BE Next]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopsmart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weddings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=37513</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When Aubrey Whitten and Major LeGrand started pricing their wedding options, they got sticker shock.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2009/08/05/five-ways-to-cut-wedding-costs/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Spend Less Money on Your Startup Budget</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/entrepreneurs/2009/07/29/spend-less-money-on-your-start-up-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/entrepreneurs/2009/07/29/spend-less-money-on-your-start-up-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:06:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Marcia Wade Talbert</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Small Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Echoing Green]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Skill-Life Inc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Training]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=38005</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are a plethora of organizations, universities, and companies that provide pro bono or professional services at a reduced fee, ranging from accounting to information technology and from human resource management to marketing. When such services are free, this practice is often referred to as skills-based volunteering.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/entrepreneurs/2009/07/29/spend-less-money-on-your-start-up-budget/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Ways to Build Your Budget</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2009/07/01/5-ways-to-build-your-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2009/07/01/5-ways-to-build-your-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:03:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Leslie E. Royal</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopsmart]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=37272</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Prior to November 2008, JaQuetta Garrison and her family enjoyed an annual household income of $80,000 and lived a comfortable upper middle-class lifestyle in their hometown of Lithonia, Georgia. The only budgeting they did was in their “mental budget book,” as Garrison says. But all that changed when her husband, Machion, lost his job as an engineering estimator at an IT company, bringing down their monthly income to $2,400. The couple had to immediately reduce costs, so they created a spreadsheet for their budget that they now stick to religiously.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/magazine/2009/07/01/5-ways-to-build-your-budget/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Love Don’t Cost a Thing</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/05/06/love-don%e2%80%99t-cost-a-thing/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/05/06/love-don%e2%80%99t-cost-a-thing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2009 23:07:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alisa Gumbs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weddings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=31807</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Television is overrun with shows about weddings. Some focus on finding a gown, some profile the planners, one even makes over the entire affair just weeks before the big event. A few are all about the money. But where is the emphasis on the meaningful details that celebrate the uniqueness of the couple and their love?

]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/05/06/love-don%e2%80%99t-cost-a-thing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Cutting Edge Q&amp;A: Rebounding After a Custody Battle</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/29/the-cutting-edge-qa-rebounding-after-a-custody-battle/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/29/the-cutting-edge-qa-rebounding-after-a-custody-battle/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:23:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Renita Burns</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cutting Edge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=31441</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since last year, I have fallen behind on the majority of my bills due to $6,400 in legal expenses I incurred while attempting to keep joint custody of my daughter. My income just isn’t stretching to cover all my bills and pay off my attorney, and it’s hurt my credit. Because I was successful in court, I don’t have time to take on another job to catch up. The only asset I have is a home that was left to me that is fully paid off. What is a feasible option for me to restore my credit?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/29/the-cutting-edge-qa-rebounding-after-a-custody-battle/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>When Your &#8216;Something Blue&#8217; Meets the Pink Slip</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/24/when-your-%e2%80%9csomething-blue%e2%80%9d-meets-the-pink-slip/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/24/when-your-%e2%80%9csomething-blue%e2%80%9d-meets-the-pink-slip/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:59:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alisa Gumbs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weddings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=30415</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sometimes the "for worse" part of "for better or for worse" comes early. In this economy, engaged couples are coping with pay cuts, layoffs, even the possibility that Bernie Madoff ran off with some of the wedding fund. So what do you do when you suddenly need to pare down your budget?]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/24/when-your-%e2%80%9csomething-blue%e2%80%9d-meets-the-pink-slip/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Plan a Wedding During a Recession</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/17/how-to-plan-a-wedding-during-a-recession/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/17/how-to-plan-a-wedding-during-a-recession/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:13:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alisa Gumbs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[marriage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[recession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[weddings]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=30040</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are some things you still need to spend money on, even when the economy's bad. Weddings are one of them. But how to plan the biggest and most expensive bash of your life—when you’re not even sure you’ll still have a job by the time you make it down the aisle—is one of the biggest challenges facing today’s engaged couples]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2009/04/17/how-to-plan-a-wedding-during-a-recession/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>9</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Day 81</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/04/10/day-81/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/04/10/day-81/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:21:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Deborah Creighton Skinner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=31079</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Treasury Department announces that the budget deficit increased by $192.3 billion in March, and is near $1 trillion, as costs of the financial bailout and recession mount. 
Bernanke and Obama meet at the White House to discuss economic strategy. (Photo Source: White House)
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/04/10/day-81/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>House, Senate Pass Budget Proposals</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/politics/politics-news/2009/04/03/house-senate-pass-budget-proposals/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/politics/politics-news/2009/04/03/house-senate-pass-budget-proposals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:19:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Deborah Creighton Skinner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Politics News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harry Reid]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=29063</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Voting along party lines, the House and Senate approved budget resolutions, backing a $3.6-trillion spending plan that sets the stage for legislation on healthcare, energy, the environment, and education. It would also edit President Barack Obama's spending proposals for the 2010 fiscal year that starts in October and stop his plans to cut taxes.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/politics/politics-news/2009/04/03/house-senate-pass-budget-proposals/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Salesman-in-Chief</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/03/25/salesman-in-chief/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/03/25/salesman-in-chief/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2009 21:17:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Derek T. Dingle</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[White House News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=28398</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
With the intense, nonstop activity that marked his political campaign, President Barack Obama is engaged in his next big thrust: selling his $3.6 trillion budget.
To achieve this mission, he has done what he does best, assuming the role of communicator-in-chief. Over the past week, he's traveled coast to coast for town hall meetings to connect [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/03/25/salesman-in-chief/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>President Barack Obama&#8217;s Statement on the Budget</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/03/17/president-barack-obamas-statement-on-the-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/03/17/president-barack-obamas-statement-on-the-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:16:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>BlackEnterprise.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[White House News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=27577</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
President Barack Obama: Hello, everybody. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Green tie, not bad, huh? Conrad didn't get the memo. You didn't, either.
Good morning. With the budget committees hard at work this week, I wanted to meet with Chairman Conrad and Chairman Spratt to talk about the progress they're making on this budget resolution.
Because these are [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/03/17/president-barack-obamas-statement-on-the-budget/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Day 57</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/03/17/day-57/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/03/17/day-57/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:37:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Deborah Creighton Skinner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[St. Patrick's Day]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=30985</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[On St. Patrick's Day, Obama met with the House and Senate budget committee chairmen to gain support for his budget proposals. He also challenged lawmakers who oppose his budget and economic plans to come up with alternate solutions.
White House fountains ran green water as the president met separately with the Taoiseach of Ireland Brian Cowan [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/03/17/day-57/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>1. I Will Live Within My Means</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-live-within-my-means/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-live-within-my-means/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:37:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carolyn M. Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wealth For Life Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=26958</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many people get into a bad habit of spending more than they earn or spending money on items they want rather than on those they need. In turn, they get trapped in more debt than they can handle.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-live-within-my-means/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>13</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>3. I Will Effectively Manage my Budget, Credit, Debt, and Tax Obligations</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-effectively-manage-my-budget-credit-debt-and-tax-obligations/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-effectively-manage-my-budget-credit-debt-and-tax-obligations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:30:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carolyn M. Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wealth For Life Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=26960</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Regardless if you earn $45,000 or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, a budget is the most important step you can take toward putting your money to work for you instead of being controlled by it. A budget will reveal how much disposable income you have to save.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-effectively-manage-my-budget-credit-debt-and-tax-obligations/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>12</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>4. I Will Save At Least 10% of My Income</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-save-at-least-10-of-my-income/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-save-at-least-10-of-my-income/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:25:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carolyn M. Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wealth For Life Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=26963</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s not enough to just make ends meet with the salary you are earning. You need to be able to sock away a portion of you income for savings and investments—at least 10% of your take-home pay. In addition, you need to invest 15% of your income in a 401k or other retirement plans.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-save-at-least-10-of-my-income/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>6. I Will Devise an Investment Plan for My Retirement Needs and Childrens&#8217; Education</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-devise-an-investment-plan-for-my-retirement-needs-and-childrens-education/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-devise-an-investment-plan-for-my-retirement-needs-and-childrens-education/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:18:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carolyn M. Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wealth For Life Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=26987</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The reality is that your chances of building wealth are optimized when you invest. It doesn’t matter if there is economic or stock market mayhem, you should never retreat from saving and investing for your future and that of your loved ones. You need to devise a plan with the goal in mind of being able to provide for your family without worry as well as to retire hassle-free, say financial experts.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-devise-an-investment-plan-for-my-retirement-needs-and-childrens-education/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>7. I Will Ensure That My Entire Family Adheres to Sensible Money Management Principles</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-ensure-that-my-entire-family-adheres-to-sensible-money-management-principles/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-ensure-that-my-entire-family-adheres-to-sensible-money-management-principles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:15:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carolyn M. Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wealth For Life Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=27051</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Talking about money matters at the dinner table may not have been polite conversation long years past. But the bombardment of news about the economy and market has forced many families to face facts and talk up. More than ever you need to work on the household finances as one cohesive unit.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-ensure-that-my-entire-family-adheres-to-sensible-money-management-principles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>9. I Will Guarantee My Wealth is Passed On To Future Generations Through Proper Insurance and Estate Planning</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-guarantee-my-wealth-is-passed-on-to-future-generations-through-proper-insurance-and-estate-planning/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-guarantee-my-wealth-is-passed-on-to-future-generations-through-proper-insurance-and-estate-planning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:05:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carolyn M. Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wealth For Life Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[estate planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=27041</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let’s face it: Nobody lives forever. No matter how much you want to deny it, you need to prepare for this fateful event. Your loved ones will have some tough and critical decisions to make, from handling funeral arrangements to managing your financial matters.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-guarantee-my-wealth-is-passed-on-to-future-generations-through-proper-insurance-and-estate-planning/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>10</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>10. I Will Strengthen my Community Through Philanthropy</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-strengthen-my-community-through-philanthropy/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-strengthen-my-community-through-philanthropy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Carolyn M. Brown</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wealth For Life Principles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=26993</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Contrary to some people’s perceptions, you don’t have to have the big bucks like Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates to be philanthropic. “Philanthropy is about giving of one’s time, talents and treasures,” says Diane Bell McKoy, president and CEO of Associated Black Charities. “Giving back is born out our faith and family traditions.”]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/wealth-for-life-principles/2009/03/13/i-will-strengthen-my-community-through-philanthropy/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Weekly Address: Budget</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/02/28/weekly-address-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/02/28/weekly-address-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2009 16:09:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>BlackEnterprise.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[White House News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Weekly Address]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=27929</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ 
Two years ago, we set out on a journey to change the way that Washington works.
We sought a government that served not the interests of powerful lobbyists or the wealthiest few, but the middle-class Americans I met every day in every community along the campaign trail – responsible men and women who are working [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/white-house/white-house-news/2009/02/28/weekly-address-budget/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Day 38</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/02/26/day-38/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/02/26/day-38/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2009 18:39:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Deborah Creighton Skinner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Barack Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arne Duncan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=30848</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Obama unveils his FY 2010 budget outline, which called for a staggering $3.55 trillion in spending and projected a 2009 deficit of historic proportions. 
The president participates in his first official meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus.
Biden meets with President Fatmir Sejdiu of Kosovo, second from left. (Photo source: White House)
]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/first-hundred/b-obama/2009/02/26/day-38/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Women &amp; Money: Your Finances at Your Life Stage</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/credit-debt/2009/01/29/woman-money-your-finances-at-your-life-stage/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/credit-debt/2009/01/29/woman-money-your-finances-at-your-life-stage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:54:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>BlackEnterprise.com</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Credit & Debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[divorce]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Harrine Freeman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money management]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=23534</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Savvy money management skills are a necessity to weather these tough economic times. BlackEnterprise.com has got you covered with our supplement to the magazine’s three-part "Women &#038; Money" series. Over the next two weeks, we’ll have money management tips and strategies from Harrine Freeman, CEO and owner of H.E. Freeman Enterprises, a credit counseling service.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/wealth-for-life/credit-debt/2009/01/29/woman-money-your-finances-at-your-life-stage/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>8</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Your Financial Fitness Checklist</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/12/23/your-financial-fitness-checklist/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/12/23/your-financial-fitness-checklist/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:46:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Renita Burns</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FICO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Investing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Roth IRA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=21428</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If getting your finances in order is at the top of your to-do list this year, BlackEnterprise.com developed a resource just for you. This personal financial checklist will help you on a way to a prosperous 2009.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/12/23/your-financial-fitness-checklist/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Cutting Edge: Getting the Most From Your Gym</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/12/17/cutting-edge-getting-the-most-from-your-gym-membership/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/12/17/cutting-edge-getting-the-most-from-your-gym-membership/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:07:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Renita Burns</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gym]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=20386</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The New Year is almost here, and if you’re one of the countless people who’ve vowed to shed that dead weight and stay fit for 2009, you may be considering a gym or weight loss program.. With money tight, you don’t want to join a program only to stop a month later and still be stuck in a contract.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/12/17/cutting-edge-getting-the-most-from-your-gym-membership/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>5</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Gift of Multi-Purpose Furniture</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2008/12/10/the-gift-of-multi-purpose-furniture/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2008/12/10/the-gift-of-multi-purpose-furniture/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2008 19:23:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Renita Burns</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[furniture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interior decorating]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cutting Edge]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=18772</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One (of several) important cost-cutting lessons I learned was to purchase furniture that serves more than one function. Sure, at first the television can rest on the bookshelf until you save up the money to buy an entertainment center. But a few months in you might notice that the TV actually looks good on the bookshelf, and the CDs, DVDs, and of course, books surrounding it actually complement the piece.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2008/12/10/the-gift-of-multi-purpose-furniture/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Investing to Build Wealth? Or Spending to Look Rich?</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2008/11/17/investing-to-build-wealth-or-spending-to-look-rich-2/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2008/11/17/investing-to-build-wealth-or-spending-to-look-rich-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:41:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alfred Edmond, Jr.</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[net worth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wealth-building]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blackenterprise.com/?p=7442</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the things I like to talk about when I travel the country speaking about the principles and habits of successful wealth-building is learning to recognize and avoid what I call poverty traps: behaviors and ways of thinking that sabotage our ability to increase our net worth and build wealth. The poverty trap I'm [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/blogs/2008/11/17/investing-to-build-wealth-or-spending-to-look-rich-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cutting Edge: BBQ Bargains</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/07/02/bbq-bargains/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/07/02/bbq-bargains/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:50:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Renita Burns</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cutting living budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cutting Edge]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://content.blackenterprise.com/2008/07/02/bbq-bargains/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the Fourth of July approaches, surging gas prices and soaring food costs have many of us clutching our wallets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts that food prices for 2008 will increase 4.5% to 5.5%. The reality is that food prices aren’t expected to decline anytime soon, so as you prepare to celebrate this holiday weekend, here are simple ways to ease the financial pangs of planning a barbecue.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/07/02/bbq-bargains/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Cutting Edge: Deals for Dad</title>
		<link>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/06/09/deals-for-dad/</link>
		<comments>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/06/09/deals-for-dad/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Annya Lott</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cutting Edge]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://content.blackenterprise.com/2008/06/09/deals-for-dad/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many of us are finding that our pockets aren't quite as deep as they once were. With gas and grocery prices sky-high, the National Retail Federation expects Father’s Day spending to reach $9.6 billion this year—marking a decline of $3 million over last year’s tally. So if you need to scale back, as the big day approaches on June 15, take a few steps to make a smarter gift purchase.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://dev2.blackenterprise.com/lifestyle/consumer-affairs/2008/06/09/deals-for-dad/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
