Tip for entering contests

[disneysteve]

This may not exactly be a money-saving tip but can be and can also be a time-saving tip.

I play Texas Hold'em poker online all the time (free game, not real money). This month, they are having special tournaments and winners of the tournaments will be entered into a drawing to win a buy-in for the World Series of Poker. I was all set to try and win a spot, which is not an easy thing to do and could take hours of play. Then I read the official rules for the contest. Turns out I could also enter the drawing by writing my name, address and phone number on a 3x5 card and mailing it to the contest promoters. They allow 2 entries per person, so for the cost of 2 stamps, I mailed off my entries and don't need to waste my time playing in the tournaments and hoping to win. This way I'm guaranteed my 2 entries.

Sometimes this can also be a money-saving tip. Most contests say, "No purchase necessary" but the entry form is on a product package, like a cereal box or something like that. Rather than buying the product, check the package. There is probably an address or a website at which you can enter without buying the product.

[boosami]

In most places in the US, contests must allow you to enter without requiring a purchase because legally if they force a purchase to enter the contest, it is considered gambling, which may be illegal because they don't have the proper license or it is not allowed in that jurisdiction.

For example, you know the McDonald's Monopoly contest where you buy a item and get little stickers to put on a Monopoly board to win prizes? Technically, you can send a postage-free slip to McDonalds with your information, and receive a game piece. You can do this every single day during the promotion. So, you can get tons of stickers at no cost to you and win prizes without purchasing a single item.

[disneysteve]

When I was in high school, there was a Burger King across the street from school. They had a game-piece type of contest and we would always stop in there after school every day to get game pieces. You were allowed one free piece per day with no purchase. We won lots of free food, though none of us won any of the big prizes. Still, as a high school student, a free order of fries or free Coke was a big deal.