The Shop Local Raleigh organization has thrown down a shopping challenge for Triangle residents.

The group is asking consumers to visit at least 12 different Shop Local Raleigh independent businesses between July 2 and Sept. 25. At each shop, get your official game card marked (available in stores or download here). Participants who mail in a completed game card by the Sept. 25 deadline will be entered for two chances to win a $500 shopping spree. Specific instructions and a list of the participating businesses are on the Web site as well.

The Galatea botique in Raleigh's Seaboard Station has announced that it will be closed on Sundays during July and August.

However, a visit on a Monday this summer could turn into a particularly lucrative shopping trip. The store is running a promotion called Motoring Mondays during which it will give away a $25 gas card each week. The drawing will take place at 7 p.m. on each Monday until Labor Day.

Office Depot is asking customers to submit their most unique photos showing support for the # 14 Office Depot/Old Spice Chevrolet Impala SS and driver Tony Stewart.

The grand prize pacakge comes from Hewlett-Packard, and includes an HP TouchSmart Desktop Computer, HP Mini Notebook computer, HP Photosmart Premium Fax All-in-One Printer, HP printer/photo ink packs and HP Premium Plus Photo Paper. Everyone who enters the "Show Us Your 14" online photo contest will receive an Office Depot coupon for 14 percent off their next qualifying purchase.

You can find the contest here... 

If you have a favorite family recipe and it's good enough, it could win you $25,000 from French's.

You can check out the contest and make your entry on the Web site here. 

Goya is giving away 10 family vacations to Florida.

The trip is a five-day, four-night trip for the winner and three guests to Worlds of Discovery Parks (that includes SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay). You can enter here... 

Raleigh favorite Larry's Beans is giving away three bags of its fair trade organic coffee on the IndieNC blog. Check it out here... 

Congratulations to Kathy Zisek of Cary, who was the randomly selected winner of Faye's Smart Spending DVD.

Kathy, look for an e-mail from me!

And thanks to everyone for entering and offering your suggestions for Taking Stock. I've compiled a list and will see what I can do about addressing them...

Just a reminder that you have a little more than an hour left to enter my contest to win Faye Prosser's Smart Spending workshop DVD.

Here's the thread with all the details on how to enter. The deadline is noon today. I will pick a winner at random from all the qualifying entries this afteroon! 

Unilever is running a summer contest in which it is giving way 25 grocery tote bags each day. Enter and you will also be in the running to win a $500 gift card for groceries.

You will need to sign up for a Unilever account, but you should do that anyway since they e-mail coupons out on a fairly regular basis. Click here to register or to enter the contest.

If you missed coupon class last weekend (or even if you came), here's a chance to get a little taste of what it was like. Faye Prosser, owner of Smart Spending Resources, has kindly donated a copy of her new DVD that is basically a recording of one of her wonderful workshops.

Retail value is $16 but I am giving this one away for free!

You have until noon on Wednesday to enter the contest. Enter by simply posting a comment on this post including your full name, the town in which you live AND one thing you wish I would discuss here on Taking Stock (I'm fishing for ideas for new Coupon 101 posts). I will pick a winner at random from all the qualifying entries on Wednesday afternoon. Good luck!