7 money tips from the U.K. trip.

Melinda is the winner of “Shooting Bears: The Adventures of a Wildlife Photographer.” And here’s a hint about this Friday’s giveaway: It’s also a book, one with a personal-finance/frugality theme — and the author is willing to personalize it.

I haven’t been posting as much as I usually do because, well, I’m bushed. It’s taking a surprising amount of time to shake off the fatigue that followed my three-week trip, during which I pushed myself pretty hard.

One more mention of the U.K. and then I’ll get back to my usual mix of PF/lifeitsownself. Here are 7 things I learned across the pond:

 

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Giveaway: $20 in Amazon scrip.

Even as I tossed out three possible prizes and asked you to vote I realized what the answer would be. Of course most people were going to want the $20 Amazon.com gift card.

After all, not everyone lives near an AMC movie theater and not everyone has a tween-ager in his life to whom to give Jean Chatzky’s “Not Your Parents’ Money Book.”

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Blog roundup: Heaving alabaster bosoms edition.

Let’s make this clear: I don’t read romance novels. But a woman I know does. No. Seriously! It’s not me!

Check out her post, “What you should be reading for Christmas,” either as an occasion for hilarity or a chance to make a reading list. Romances aren’t my cup of (overly sweetened) tea, but they might be yours.

And yeah, Christmas has come and gone – but Valentine’s Day awaits.

Julia over at Bargain Babe is giving away 11 prizes, including a $250 Macy’s gift card, to celebrate the site’s second anniversary. Click here to learn more and to enter. Do it quickly, since the deadline for the Macy’s card is 11:59 p.m. Monday.

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Tuesday short takes. (Now with more moose!)

MJ is the winner of the box o’ Christmas oddities, courtesy of RetailMeNot.com. I just returned from the post office. Maybe there will be a Christmas miracle, i.e., it will get there on time.

A whole bunch of you sure liked that bling mug, aka the “2 Carat Coffee Cup.” If you’re interested in getting one of your own, start your shopping here — and be sure to look for a coupon code, too.

In other news:

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