What Kind of Contests do you Like?

Don’t enter contests for prizes you do not want. When someone offers you a raffle ticket or you visit a contest site online, look for those things you like. If you are going to spend money, you might as well enter to win a prize you will enjoy. Most people enter contests on a whim. But if you actually list the things that interest you and the things you like you can systematically spend your contest money to win things you will find useful.  

Do you want a free gym membership for six months or a piece of exercise equipment or a free mountain bike? Perhaps you love movies and you want to win a contest to go to the opening night of a movie with your favorite actor? You can win contests that offer something as simple as a free subscription to a magazine or enter to win a new home or free services to renovate your existing home. Whether you know it or not, there are many companies that offer contests and sweepstakes as a way to get you to buy products or to find out more about their services or the items they sell.

One thing you should know about winning that new car: be careful of the fine print in the contest entry. You may be expected to endorse the product or help the company with advertising. Like the famous publishing house sweepstakes, you may have to put your face on TV or in ads and with that kind of notoriety you might get some attention you do not want.  

If you love fashion you might enter a contest to win a dress worn by a model or actress. There are even contests to win a week in a timeshare on a tropical island and contests to win new electronic equipment and jewelry. As you can see, the possibilities are limited only by your research and your imagination.  

Find the things you really want and perhaps cannot afford, and sign up for a contest. You will probably have to give some personal information in order to enter to win and the company will probably use that information to send you marketing or advertising messages by email or by regular mail delivery. But that might be something you are willing to endure for a chance to win a dream trip or a new car. Only you can decide what is right for you and where your interests lie.