Should I Even Bother?

If it's not hurting you financially and it's providing you some form of enjoyment, then by all means, continue doing what you're doing. I've always though of sweepstakes and contests as a form of entertainment that would allow me to win money, while spending money that I won't be needing. If I need money for say, investments and debt-payments, I don't join sweepstakes. When I have extra money, then I join these contests. It's as simple as that for me.

If you're at the point where you need to start focusing on your finances, then stop joining sweepstakes. Rather, invest your extra money on businesses, stocks, bills, and other investment vehicles. This way, you're money will grow. Albeit not as fast as when you join draws and contests.

 

Well, I have actually heard of a few people who did win a prize in Publisher's Clearinghouse. The thing about Publisher's Clearinghouse and the thing they don't tell you is that it take three years before your drawing comes up. That's right if you signed up this year it won't be till 2018 till your drawing comes up. Oh they do tell us this in that small print that usually accompanies their entry information, not the many of us take the time to read this.

 

I typically don't like to enter these, although I've heard people do win. I am suspicious of many of them and I think they are just a way to collect people's information and make a database.

I am really weary of giving out my name and address online. I don't know why, but I guess I am from the day and age where privacy was a valued and important thing.

 

Someone has to win and if you have time to do it and it doesn't cost you anything then why not? I once clicked a button to enter a competition and won a trip to New York with spending money, so it can happen. I could do with another win like that. Yes, you have to be careful of what details you give, but generally these days they email you or send an official letter if you win.

 

Yeah, I see what you're saying. Also that is amazing that you really won! Wow, that's great.

I guess I am too skeptical. I even question if the contest is real sometimes. I mean, no one is policing these online contests, what's to stop a company from saying Congrats to Patty SoandSo, in anywhere, New Mexico! How would you know if the winner even exists, or if they made it up and never gave anyone that $25,000? That might be unethical, but as I said, whose really going to know?

That's why I wonder to if it's even worth it to give them my info.

 

I definitely agree with you! My husband and I would usually buy those scratch cards from the sweepstakes booth just for the fun of it. Sometimes we just win back the money we used to buy the card and sometimes we earn about a dollar or two. Anyway, we only consider it as a way to unwind and have fun so we don't take it heavily if we lose. And as what you said, we spend on these kinds of things only if we have extra money to do so.

 

Entering into Sweepstakes can be time consuming, but it’s worth it. My motto is “Somebody has to win, why can’t that somebody be me” I have consistently played for years and won many prizes including a 3D HD T.V. So yes it’s worth taking the time to do sweepstakes. I also like the fact that it’s not costing me a dime, like in playing the lotto. All it costs is my time.

 

I'm particular of what I enter. I like pch.com because it's free and they do pay out. You got all kinds of things to win, play games to get points to get prizes and you can make friends too if you want to and help yourself get bigger prizes too for the more friends you got bumps you up to a higher level to win better prizes. It's a lot of fun and I do limit myself at the time I spend there too, so I get fun and maybe prizes that really happen and the payout is real!

 

I do participate in sweepstakes and contests though the odds are stacked against the participants. But if one can spare some time and effort, they are a good way to save on purchases if you are a lucky winner. The good thing is that everyone has an equal chance at winning. I like playing the grid game in PTC sites like Clicksense where one has a reasonably high probability of winning $10.

 

I do not bother with sweepstakes or contests since it seems that I never win. I just feel that they are a waste of time, but everyone is right that someone has to win so it could be you. I guess you have to determine if the time is worth it for you and who knows it might be your lucky day. I think you should give it a try though before you decide not enter them at all. Then you will know first hand what it is like for you.

 

I've been entering sweepstakes for years. I'll occasionally enter a contest, but they usually require some sort of additional effort, so sometimes I skip them, unless it's a really attractive prize.

I am more cautious these days about the sweepstakes that I enter. There are so many scammers out there just looking to collect our information to sell that I'm a bit more judicious with whom I give my information to, but there are plenty of legitimate companies that offer sweepstakes. I've only won a few smaller things in sweepstakes, but I'm eternally hopeful.

 

Therer was an era (1970 to 1990) when supermarkets here have that regular raffle with a car as the grand prize. You get a free raffle entry for every purchase of a certain amount. The more you shop, the more tickets you get. But in a span of 10 years, we haven't won even a consolation prize. So we decided to just ignore that raffle ticket because it takes a lot of time to fill in the name, address and contact number of say 10 tickets or so.

Now the supermarket raffle is rare but I still don't bother to even get the ticket from the courtesy counter.

 

I don't think it's that foolish or silly to partake but maybe just the perspective can account for a lot. For those who buy in hoping to win big it might be a pipe dream but if you're just buying to find a bit of enjoyment every once in a while then it's not that much different from any other hobby since almost all hobbies require some sort of fee one way or another, whether it is time or money. Just as long as you don't end up getting too obsessive with it then it can remain a casual hobby that you put money into from time to time.

 

I have not been much of a game player in the past with any luck. My daughter on the other hand is always winning the scratch off and she goes to the local casino and wins regularly.

 

I won free pudding for a year because I was one of three people that actually entered the contest at the local grocery store. I was 10 years old (1 snack pack a day basically). I got kind of fat that year. I also won a bike from a firework stand later that year which helped with the fat from the pudding. I'd say go for it.

 

I do enter sweepstakes and giveaways regulary. I guess you could call it a hobby, but I don't spend much time on it, maybe 20 minutes a day or so. I used to enter all the sweepstakes there were, but soon I realised that it's better to enter only those offering small prizes than something big and expensive like cars or technolgies or huge cash amounts. It's very unlikely to win those, and they usually take more time to enter. However, I've won small prizes like books, Amazon gift cards and make-up sets. I find it fun to enter sweepstakes and it's always a pleasant surprise to receive and e-mail notifying you that you've won something! I say sweepstakes are worth it if you don't feel like entering them too tedious.

 

There are sweepstakes sites that list all the sweeps that are out there. My favorite site is sweepstakesadvantage.com. I have won several cool things from sweepstakes: a DKNY watch, a very expensive set of headphones, a nice chess board, and a bluetooth speaker for my computer. You just have to enter a lot and make sure you follow the rules because little things can get you disqualified.