I got into couponing when I was pregnant. The big baby related companies like Pampers, Dreft, Huggies, Dr. Browns, and Similac would give out free stuff & coupons for signing up on their websites. I also got a free hospital bag with Similac formula, Johnson & Johnson soaps and lotions, Pampers diapers, and more. You can't beat free, you know? I was about to have a baby and I was struggling so anything helped at that point. After I saw how easy it was to get free items, I kept it up a few months after Eli was born. While I would be visiting these websites, I noticed some of them had Instant Win games and Sweepstakes going on for baby related prizes. I saw a jogging stroller on the Similac website and I said to myself: "Hey, Why not!?" I never won the jogging stroller, but just for entering they sent me a coupon for a free Similac powder formula up to $13.95. That's almost $14 FREE! Of formula! A must-have when you are not or have stopped breastfeeding. And my fellow mothers can agree with me when I say formula is expensive.
Now back to sweepstakes. I know you hear of sweepstakes everywhere. Watching TV, listening to the radio, surfing the internet, billboards.. They are everywhere! Publishers Clearing House, anyone? Remember those infomercials where that man rings the door bell with a 6 foot check under his arm holding a handful of bright balloons? "You've won $20,000 in the Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes!" then comes the 5 alarm scream from some stay at home housewife with 6 kids. That scream made my ears ring. In the back of my mind I always wondered what it would feel like to win something. Especially cold hard cash. I had to do this. I had to start entering. You can't win if you don't enter. That has been my motto and a lot of other sweepers' motto, too. So, Eli was a few months old by now & I finally had some free time. I went back again to those big companies online: Pampers, Huggies, Dreft, etc. On their websites, they would make you aware of some other sweepstakes going on with their sister companies. Little Tikes, Walmart, Target, and so on. The entries were so easy, too! Sometimes it was just enter your e-mail. Other times it would be to enter your address, e-mail, date of birth, and so on. Easy as pie! Enter your info and you could win a $100 Target gift card.
Sweepstakes Tip: Always, always, always, (did I say 'always'?) read the OFFICIAL RULES of every sweepstakes you enter! Google the company to make sure it is legit. Check how many entries. Is it one prize per household? Companies will forfeit you if you don't abide by the rules. After you get the hang of sweeping, reading through the rules will be a breeze. It's usually the same rules with every contest.
I started out by entering the sweepstakes that were giving away the things I needed on a daily basis: Money, Diapers, Cars, Clothes, Kitchen appliances, etc. Then, when I started getting everything I needed and was caught up, I started entering for all kinds of fabulous things! Beauty products, Hair products, jewelry, TV's, etc. Sweepstaking is JUST like gambling. You never know if or when you will win! But it sure is fun playing. I am writing this blog post to encourage my friends and family and blog readers to win. It really is simple to win. (Surprise wins are so much fun to receive in the mail.)
Sweepstakes Trick: Set up a notepad on your computer and list the sweepstakes by entries and end dates. You don't want to enter a sweepstakes two or three times that required only one entry and get disqualified. I have had that happen to me. :(
Google sweepstakes, search the hashtag #giveaways #sweepstakes on Twitter, follow beauty blogs and momma blogs. You will find something you want to enter. And once you get that first win, the rest is history. Believe me. :D For Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter, make sure you sign up for e-mail notifications so you don't miss out on a win. Once you start following the big companies on Twitter and 'liking' them on facebook, it gets easier from there. Blogs will promote them and other smaller companies will do giveaways with their items and/or gift cards. You must have patience. It can take years from the contest end date to receive your prize. It also can take as little as 2 to 3 days. Have fun with it and remember that these things are FREE! (Unless you win a car that you have to pay taxes on. haha)
Post any questions or comments you have on this blog post. I will try to answer the best I can. This isn't a full detailed explanation of sweepstakes. I just wanted to share how I started and a few tips and tricks of my own.
<3 Xo
