Competition wins as gifts?

Let’s be realistic, we don’t really want to keep every prize that we win.

Take for instance you enter a competition with a family holiday as first prize, and camera as a runners up prize. When the competition is drawn, you are lucky enough to win a runner’s up prize, a new camera. Of course this is a wonderful prize win, but you’ve recently purchased (or won hopefully) the camera of your dreams and you really don’t have any use for this one.

In this situation you’re faced with a few solutions. You can give the camera away to charity or something similar, sell it to try and recover some of your comping costs (and we all know this hobby can have some expenses associated), keep it just for the hell of it, or give the lovely prize away as a gift.

Personally I have given away hundreds of dollars in prizes as gifts. Other prizes I have sold to friends and family at greatly reduced prices, and other times I have given things away. One of the sad things is when you get excited about having the chance to give a great gift to a family member or friend and the reception is less than welcome.

Hopefully not everyone out there has experienced this. But the truth is that when people realise you enter competitions as a hobby, very seldom do they realise the dedication and sometimes the expense that goes along with it. When this is the case, people often “expect” to recieve gifts, or don’t see the value in the gift when it is given.

Most people are grateful for receiving any sort of gift whether it be won or bought, but several times I have given prizes as gifts, keeping in mind that most times the gift is something I would never have been able to afford had I not won it, only to hear the comment “oh did you win this?”.

It can be hurtful to feel as though people don’t appreciate what you are sharing with them. But the reality is, that unless people comp full time as I often do, then they won’t understand the dedication and expense. There are now some family and friends I don’t give prizes to as gifts. Instead I greet them with a $20 gift card instead. It’s their loss, they may have received prizes worth hundreds of dollars otherwise, but there is a point that you need to remember that this is your hobby, your fun and it should stay that way!

Competitions & The Economic Downturn

There are many opinions being thrown around at the moment as to whether the worldwide economic downturn will affect competitions. I was asked if I think there will be more or less competitions due to the economic crisis worldwide?

It may seem crazy that to some, this would even BE a consideration, but like all keen hobbiests, compers are passionate about what they do!!

So will the economic downturn see a change in the competition, contests and sweepstakes market?

Well, who can be sure, but here are my predictions for the coming year…..

• More competitions!! - It has been said that perhaps companies won’t be able to afford to run competitions if their bottom line profits become tight. BUT, my background in marketing tells me that cutting back on competitions won’t be the case for most companies.

You see, when money is tight in the economy, companies of all sizes are trying to find ways to stand out amongst their competitors. Many will resort to trying competitions and sweepstakes, and some will try this as a promotional method for the first time. Of course, we all know that competitions can be a huge flop and end up costing companies money for little return, but those who are smart and switched on with what consumers want will find themselves in a very successful position by attracting new and old customers with competitions and the lure of prizes!!

• There will be more people entering! - OK this may sound like a bad thing, after all doesn’t more people entering mean it becomes harder to win? Well perhaps. But in reality everyone is going to feel a financial squeeze over the coming year or so, and many are feeling it already. SO what better way to give yourself a bit of hope then to start entering competitions.

Seasoned compers have some advantage when it comes to increased numbers of entrants. They tend to be more organised, realise the importance in keeping proof of purchase and know how to keep an eye out for competitions offering greater odds of winning. But overall people just entering the hobby have the chance to change their lives in the true sense by winning products and holidays that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

The benefit of having more people entering competitions is of course that companies and promoters see greater results for their effort meaning that they will continue to offer competitions and sweepstakes in order to boost sales and profits and we won’t be left scratching our heads trying to find a new hobby.

So REALLY, it is a win win for all and I am resting peacefully in the prediction that comping will stay as a positive and luctrative hobby for those who choose to get addicted to it in 2009

GOOD LUCK

Australian Competitions Weekend Edition

The weekend - It’s the perfect opportunity to get into a winning frame of mind and enter some competitions. Here’s some to keep you occupied over the next few days

Closing Friday 16th January

Huge Prizes with Flight Centre - Simply subscribe to their newsletter to be in the running to win an Unbeatable Bond Experience valued up to $130,000

Win an Apple Iphone with MOZO - Simply sign up and rate your bank for your chance to win!

Win a $2000 Wotif Voucher - This one is lots of fun, simply create a christmas scene to go in the draw - CLOSES at 5pm

An amazing Ithaca bar from Howard Miller and $500 of wine from Tyrrell’s Winery - Courtesy of My Home Magazine - To enter, tell us in 25 words or less why you’d like to win this great prize (head over to their website to enter)

Closing January 17th

One of 40 DVD’s thanks to MyFun - Join as a member and head over to their competitions page

A Selleys BBQ Pack - WIn one of 5 bbq packs by answering “Why you would like to win…”

Win an LG Viewty Phone - Thanks to women’s health magazine - Simply answer “what is your best tip for taking a great pic”

Closing January 18th

Win an Apple Ipod Nano 16GB - Thanks to Big Brown Box - In 25 words or less, tell us what you would purchase from bigbrownbox.com.au and why?

Be the “work experience Kid on RAGE” - An interesting and fun competition for sure! - Who would you like to see on the set of rage?

Win Concert Tickets for a Year! - Simply place your vote for the Triple J hottest 100

Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of Problogger the book - closing soon!!

Amazing Australian Competition - Win a Dream Wedding Cake

WOW!!! Is all I can say about this australian competition being held over on the blog Polkadot Bride!!

One VERY  lucky Australian Couple have the chance to win their dream wedding cake valued at…….. get this!!! Valued at $1500!!!!

So, if you are planning a wedding within the next 12 months and could use a beautiful wedding cake for free (and who couldn’t, we all know how expensive weddings can be)

Then head on over the Polkadot bride to get your entry in.

It’s lots of fun, you actually have to design your dream wedding cake. Ms Polkadot has supplied templates and instructions and you can find out here How to win a wedding cake!

Competition Closes February 13th - Good Luck Everyone.

Aussie Blog Contest - Open Worldwide

I’m excited to be posting an Aussie Blog Contest thanks to mummified times 5 -

Head over to her wonderful blog for your chance to win a beautiful personalised childrens t-shirt from Karousel Kids.

Read about the wonderful Karousel Kids t-shirts and enter the competition while you are there

Good Luck

This giveaway is open to everyone, worldwide!

Giveaway closes Friday, 6pm (AEST) and winner will be contacted by email and announced on MX 5.

Australian Competitions - Win Prizes

Well, best get back to things, lets make January a winning month… Here’s some competitions closing over the next few days…..

Win $5000 in summer prizes - TAKE 40 - Instant Win - This is a great instant win competition running on the TAKE 40 website - This actually ends on the 1st February so don’t forget to enter daily

Closing 13/01/09

Win one of 30 Baby Einstein Play Mats - Thanks to Mother and Baby Magazine - Answer in 25 words or less Why would you love to win this play mat for your baby

Win a Zero Gravity Flight in the USA - This would be an AMAZING competition and experience to win!!! This is thanks to gadget guy - In 25 words or less write why do you want to experience the zero gravity flight.

Win a Family Organiser - Thanks to Notebook Magazine

Closing 14/01/2009

Win a Dark Night Prize Pack - Thanks to Warner Bros Website - IN 25 wol answer Who is your favourite “the dark night” character and why?

Win one of 2 Accor Hotel Vouchers - You need to sign up for this one and recieve a virtual scratch card with instant prizes

Another AMAZING competition thanks to Alpha Magazine - experience a heart-stopping, high altitude, adrenaline-packed air combat experience & Holiday Enter via sms or email

Win a Casio Men’s Watch - Simply email Inside Cricket Magazine And tell them in 100 Words or less the most memorable piece of fielding you’ve ever seen a player pull-off in any game, anywhere and why?

Win a Solar Hot Water Service Thanks to Green Pages

Get Entering and GOOD LUCK - There are some really great prizes in this line up Don’t forget about our very own competition to win problogger the book

Something Fun

Ok, this has absolutely NOTHING to do with competitions or prizes, but in celebration of joining the top 100 Australian WOmen Bloggers I thought I would do this the Aussie 100 Thing survey… I just stumbled across it at Mummified X5 …

I have put all the things I have done in Red

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run.
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket.
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bush walking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

There are so many things on that list that I have “almost done” or are on my list to do

It’s a fun Aussie list, give it a try and see how much you’ve done……

Competitions, Prizes & New Year’s Resolutions

Well, I’m a few days late to be writing about New Year’s Resolutions, but now is as good time as any hey!!!

There are a few New Year’s Resolutions for Prizetastic and a Few REALLY handy resolutions that anyone who wants to win prizes and create a real hobby out of winning should focus on in 2009, so here goes -

Prizetastic Resolutions -

• 3 blog posts per week including at least one post of competitions to enter and one post being hints and tips to winning more
• Run a new competition each month including a variety of prizes and entry methods
• Increase involvement with fellow bloggers in helping highlight their blog contests
• Grow Prizetastic readership & ability to grow it’s offering to everyone.

Must do Resolutions for Anyone who Wants TO WIN PRIZES

• Enter at least one competition a day (There will be at LEAST 7 competitions posted on prizetastic each week so if you only enter those you’ll be sticking to that resolution…. EASY)
• Read terms and conditions thoroughly - It’s a horrible feeling to win and not be awarded the prize due to not being eligible so save the heartbreak and read t&c before entering
• Get Creative - Prizetastic will be bringing you more tips on how to increase your chances or think outside the box to win creative style competitions and sweepstakes, so take the time and just give creative competitions a go….. who know’s you might just win
• Track entries & Winnings - This isn’t “vital” but it can be handy to keep an eye on what you have and haven’t entered, and especially for 25 word or less answers to note down the competition they were for and the answer. If you strike a winner it’s great to be able to modify it a little and use it again… the same with answers that don’t win, you just never know what judges are looking for!!!

So there you go, it’s a neat little list to focus on for the new year…. I’m actually very excited about this year and what it has to offer… there’s lots happening in our house so it’s looking to be exciting all around..

Good Luck and here’s wishing you a lucky, winning year xxx

Australian Competition - $100 Gift Voucher

Head on over to my shiny new shoes.

They have a great competition thanks to Bump, Baby and Beyond for a $100 Gift Voucher.

You’ll need to head on over to the My Shiny New Shoes website and follow the instructions……

Competition Closes January 10th

Good Luck

I’m a Top 100 Australian Women Blogger!!!

I am so very very excited to have Prizetastic debut in the Top 100 Australian Women Bloggers list this month. What a way to start the New Year!!!

It’s especially wonderful because even after being unable to blog in December and the blog rankings dropping pretty rapidly we still made it!!!

Rankings are on the way up again which is GREAT and should see Prizetastic continue to move up the ranks a little higher, but I am very very flattered to be in amongst some well established and newer bloggers who have amazing blogs to share…

Head on over to Top 100 Australian Women Bloggers to check it out

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