The winner of last week’s prize, a copy of “Your Money: The Missing Manual,” is Cindy Brick. Or will be, if I hear back from her by Monday night.

Yesterday I went into a drugstore and found several aisles completely stocked for Christmas: lights, ornaments, wrapping paper, toys, candy and, of course, traditional sacred images such as Mickey Mouse wearing a Santa hat. Sigh.

While too-early Christmas marketing and commercialism in general both bug me, I am also practical enough to acknowledge they exist — and to help a reader stretch his/her dollars to the utmost. That’s why I’m happy to announce a giveaway sponsored by the Consumerism Commentary blog: a $100 Amazon gift card, just in time for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Wish you could have been at the SaveUp 2011 conference. This week’s giveaway provides a little SaveUp vibe. The chicken slingshot is a particularly nice touch.

I’m not talking a “Greetings from Schaumburg!” ashtray, either.

Kelly Hancock, who blogs at Faithful Provisions, has a new book out — and a shopping bag to match. This week you have a chance to win both.