One of my favorite hobbies, if I am shameless enough to call it that, is entering sweepstakes! I am a closet "sweeper." If you want to read about some great prizes, check out this article about sweepstakes winners!
Ya know, every so often you watch a news story, like the one above, about some crazy lady in fly-over country who has spent half her life in Europe thanks to winning contests. I knew that couldn't ALL be fake stories because a friend won a cruise once. I decided, if they could do it, I could do it!
Ya know, every so often you watch a news story, like the one above, about some crazy lady in fly-over country who has spent half her life in Europe thanks to winning contests. I knew that couldn't ALL be fake stories because a friend won a cruise once. I decided, if they could do it, I could do it!
"What have you won?" you ask? Well, um... not much. I won a Tide t-shirt and stain pen. Hanes sent a pair of unmentionables. I got a ton of free samples in the mail. And... wait for it... wait for it...AN X-BOX 360 ELITE!
I totally quit while I was on top. I'll let you guys take over for me. Here are my rules for winning at sweepstakes.
10. Be prepared for a lot of junk mail.
9. Never pay anyone for any contest entry. Ever.
8. Check out http://www.slickdeals.net/ and click Forums, and then Contests & Sweepstakes.
7. Don't mess with Publisher's Clearinghouse. They also have a warehouse full of people working forty hours a week gaining other "entries." The odds are not in your favor.
6. Try creative contests like essay contests or video entry contests. Most people don't bother, so your chances are greater!
5. Read about.com here for more "how to win" info.
4. Set up an e-mail account just to handle all your new spam. Also, you have to check this account once in a while to see if you won anything.
3. You can't win if you don't enter.
2. Don't enter contests for stuff you don't want, can't use, or won't sell.
1. After you start winning, thanks to all this helpful information, you must share your loot with me!
That is soooo funny. I need to show this post to Patty. Although I have absolutely nothing to validate my contest craving. I never win anything.
ReplyDeletePersistance is the key! I didn't win for the first two months. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link, Bethany! I hope you don't give up, and that the XBox Elite is just the beginning of your great wins! :)
ReplyDeletei, too, love winning contests. just recently i wrote an essay and won an ice cream block party (from edy's brand) for my neighborhood (which will take place next week).
ReplyDeletei also won a $300 bat at carson's world series. i was all for selling it because i don't think a 7 yo needs a $300 bat, but i lost out on that argument!
oh and i can't forget the hideous fast fitness tee that i won. of course, i didn't win the free month (the prize i could actually use)!
Melody,
ReplyDeleteI actually entered that ice cream contest! And you won the cruise, right?
That's really funny that they made you keep that bat.