So, you’re Newly Unemployed, Newly Partially Unemployed, or perhaps you’ve been slogging through this damned and damnable economy for the past 12 months with no relief in sight... but you have internet access!
There are a lot of things you can do online. You can throw shoes Sock and Awe at the jackass that ushered us into this circle of hell. You can pick fights with me on dKos, because I am addicted to a good argument. You can use any of the following work-from-home websites advocated in this excellent Frugal Fridays diary.
Or, you can enter sweepstakes.
Curious about how to start "sweeping"? I have many, many suggestions, and yes - it's legit. Here's a bit about my past.
My latest sweeps win was an organizational consultation along with a set of books. I turned this win down, because I did not want to pay taxes on it and it was more geared to department managers or business owners than anything else – more on my mistakes in entering this contest later. Prior to that, it was a fine shampoo and conditioner set, with a brush, valued at about $150 total (it was nice stuff, a shame I can’t afford buying more!). Today, I may enter 5 contests a week (max). Three years ago, I spent 2-3 hours a night entering contests. Here's what I had at the end of that year:
- Truck & Trailer, customized, value $220,000 (no, seriously - I won dat, check out the pics!)
- Big screen TV, carton of popcorn, value $1,600
- $1,000 check from MSN Travel
- Other miscellaneous items (VIP tickets to NASCAR event, hats, Frisbees, etc.)
It's totally for real, but you need to be smart about how you enter. I’m going to provide some basic tips for the beginning sweeper in this diary, but feel free to ask questions if you have any.
Here’s some ground rules:
- Create another email account at a free internet provider used JUST for sweeping. You will get shitloads of spam. You must do this first if you value the health and usability of your current email account(s).
- Go to roboform.com. Download the FREE software, and set up a profile. This will give you a button on your toolbar with your name on it. Any time you have an HTML (not Flash!) form on the page, hit the button and it will auto-fill your basic information so you can submit quicker - this will cut down your submit times tremendously, allowing you to enter more contests.
- Don't give out your cell phone number unless required – many sweeps will try to send you texts, which will cost you money unless you have unlimited text messaging.
Okay, so you've created your account and you have Roboform (it's free, by the way). Now, go to your favorite sweeping website. There are lots out there, each one has a different feel. Do not join any website that asks you for money. My favorite website is SweepsAdvantage. Browse the forums - they are a godsend. If you're not sure about the validity of a particular sweep, ask! Want to see what others are winning every day? Head to the winner's circle and send them a congrats!
Now, you're ready to enter sweeps. If you plan to spend all day doing this, I would first "catch up" - go through any listed Expiring Sweeps (left menu on SweepsAdvantage’s main page) and go through the dates listed so you are entered in the ones that are ending today or this week. Then, I would enter the New Sweeps (also a button on the left on the main page) that are listed. At this point, it's up to you. Explore! Instant wins are unique in that you know if you've won immediately (that was the TV/popcorn win, for me).
How to avoid scams:
- No real sweep will ever ask you for money.
- No real sweep will ever ask for your credit card, SSN or any other typically secret info.
- If it looks like a scam, is cheaply thrown together, and has blinky stuff everywhere, it probably is a scam.
Other things to keep in mind:
- Never be afraid to leave a sweep behind if it makes you uncomfortable.
- If you get extra entries by referring to a friend, use your other email addresses or your household’s email addresses – this is acceptable in the majority of sweeps!
- Pay attention to the rules. Many sweeps restrict by state, by age, and some by nationality or parental status.
- Pay attention to the prize and its value – if you don’t want to pay taxes on it, don’t enter! If you can’t use the prize and can’t gift it to someone, don’t enter! It’s a waste of your time, and a waste of the promotioner’s time for you to enter and potentially win. This is the mistake I made above with the organizational contest!
- I routinely enter contests with the intention of paying the taxes and donating the prize – especially for kids’ toys and playsets, or clothing. I know a lot of shelters locally are hurting, and a little extra for the kids would be a boon. If you can afford the taxes on a prize you might otherwise not use, consider entering with the intention of donating to a worthy charity.
- Keep an eye out for restrictions that allow you to enter special contests – travel agents, hairdressers, and residents of a certain state or city often have local or specialized contests pop up. Your chances of winning raise exponentially if you or someone in your family qualifies for that special status, because less people will be entering the contest.
- If you like to bake and make up new recipes, get to entering the cooking/recipe contests out there – just remember that catchy names and food fads tend to win these, so keep the latest food trends in mind when you enter.
- Enter it and forget it. Nothing sucks worse than not seeing the UPS guy with his big package (ehrmmm...) waiting at your door when you were POSITIVE that you were going to get something in the mail today! Enjoy the camaraderie, revel in others’ wins, and enjoy the goodwill, but don’t obsess about how long it takes to get your first or fiftieth win!
Now that I've taken the time to type this all out, I want your promise that you let me know when and if you win something fun!!
FAQS:
- Do you give them your real info (name, birthdate, address, phone)? If you want to win the contest, then yes – give them the most accurate info you can. Many contests will disqualify a winner if it turns out they’ve offered false information
- Can I enter a contest more than once? Always read the rules – some will require one entry per household for the entire entry period. Some allow one per household per day. Some allow one per email address (so, as many email addresses are in your household). If you see a contest that you’d really like to win, read the rules to see how many times you can enter.
- I really want to win this contest. I’m going to spend $100 on envelopes, stamps, and enter every day online so I can get as many entries as possible! The enthusiasm is great – I had it too, the first time I heard about HGTV’s house giveaway almost ten years ago. I bought stamps, cards, envelopes and cramped my hand at night – but it was all worth it, because I knew I was going to win with those 100+ entries!! Except, I didn’t. So, remember - winning sweepers don’t spend all of their time on one highly advertised contest while ignoring other, lesser-known contests! Be sure to manage your sweeping time accordingly. 20 entries at once in one contest is more than enough – move on to your next target!
- So, what if I make up an email address for my dogs, my cats, and each of my kids and use them to enter Instants? Well, you can get by some of the filters doing this, but in general, it’s bad Karma – it’s cheating. Don’t do it. Your fellow sweepers, myself included, will be really pissed when we find out.
- Do I really need to sweep 2-3 hours a night to win something? No, not at all. As I mentioned earlier, I enter contests just a few times a week now, and an entry from January just hit! Also, you have people who claim to enter hours every day and go months (years?) without ever winning. It’s a game of chance, but it costs nothing but your time.