Find, Enter, and Win Sweepstakes and Contests

Everyone loves getting free stuff, and I'm no exception. Whenever I have a chance to get a free product, whether it's a t-shirt for filling out a credit card application or an ice cream cone for attending the grand opening of the newest eatery, I always follow through. Some people think it's just not worth the time or effort to get some of these products, but I've accumulated quite a stash of useful items over the years. And now, I'm taking my hobby a step further by entering as many online sweepstakes and contests as possible.

Finding new sweepstakes and contests to enter couldn't be easier. There are lots of websites out there that do nothing but list the latest giveaways, and these sites are a good place to start. What I've done is subscribe to a number of RSS feeds so that as soon as another contest is posted, I'll be notified and can get my entry in. I've also set up a Google alert for sweepstakes and contests. Whenever those words are mentioned on a website and indexed by the Google search engine, I get an email notification. I can then visit the site myself and see if the giveaway is something I'm interested in. And I also check the websites of my favorite companies and brand names (like Coca-Cola, KFC, Best Buy, etc.) to see if they currently have any special offers.

Entering all the sweepstakes and contests I find can be a bit time-consuming, but you can't win if you don't play, right? This part of the process should be pretty straightforward. The only real advice I have for you here is to make sure you follow all the rules and regulations as stipulated by the contest host. If they limit entries to one per person, household, or email address, then make sure you respect that limit. If you need to send in a certain form or UPC code, make sure you've got the right documents. If you need to be over a certain age or reside in a certain state or country, make sure you meet the requirements. In addition, you should always send your full contact information, including daytime and evening phone numbers so you can be contacted if you win.

Speaking of winning, I wish there was some secret I could share with you to help improve your chances of winning sweepstakes and contests, but unfortunately, most of the time it comes down to sheer luck -- such as when the winner is selected in a random drawing. Occasionally, however, there are times when you can help affect the outcome, particularly when the winner is determined by a vote. For these types of sweepstakes and contests, you should let all your friends and family know about your entry, and ask them to vote for you as many times as they're allowed to.

Even if you don't win, entering sweepstakes and contests can still be a fun-filled hobby that you can do in your spare time. These days, you don't even have to splurge for a stamp to mail in your entry, as most of these giveaways can be entered online. With that being the case, you have nothing to lose -- except maybe a few minutes of your time. If that's all it takes for a chance to win a new car, boat, trip to Florida, or cash, then sign me up!