Hello again compers! How was your week, any nice wins to report? Nothing new to report here, but did have some prizes turn up this week that I have been waiting for. It is times like this that I love my prizes spreadsheet – I keep track of every prize I win, where it was from, the date, the type of comp, a rough value and then colour code prizes as they are won and when they arrive. It is lovely to look back on a spreadsheet during dry spells, to remind ourselves what lovely things we have already won, and to spur ourselves on to keep our comping mojo. It also means we can chase promoters that are taking their time sending prizes out!
Some people ask me why I bother entering the-big money comps like holidays, cash, vouchers and cars. They think that the odds are so low in these kinds of high value prizes that it isn’t worth entering – tell that to the millions of people who play the lottery every week I say! The odds of winning a high-value competition prize are much better than on the lottery and are for the most part free to enter, but most people wouldn’t think twice about spending their hard earned cash to enter the lottery on a regular basis.
I also say it isn’t just the big ticket items that keep me comping, I love the thrill of a small win just as much as a big one. I especially like winning things as a by-product of going about my daily life – like on-pack promotions that are being run on products I already buy! One of these promotions is currently being run by Walkers Crisps, and is a great example of a competition that takes minimal extra effort to enter, as I already buy Walkers Crisps on a regular basis for my husband and for my daughters’ lunchboxes occasionally. Pick up a promotional individual pack or multi-pack of Walkers Crisps and you could be bagging yourself a free lunch! 1 in 6 promotional packs will win £4 to be redeemed against lunch items at a whole range of online and in-store retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Upper Crust, Boots and Spar. To enter you need to submit the unique 12 digit code form your promotional pack at https://www.walkers.co.uk/lunch and you will be informed instantly if you are a winner. You can choose from a number of routes to claim your voucher too including using a smartphone app, uploading a photo of your lunch receipt and obtaining the £4 via PayPal, or by requesting a printed coupon. The lunch you buy with the winning coupon must contain a pack of Walkers Crisps! The entry deadline for the Free Lunch promotion is midnight on 11th July 2015, and you can enter up to five unique codes per person per day during the promotion. Any codes entered between 12th July 2015 and 11th September 2015 will also go into a last mop-up prize draw to win £1,000 ash! Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch, hey?
If this promotion has whet your appetite for other eating-out comps, here are a few for you to get your teeth stuck into (like what I did there, haha!)
- If you are a comper north of the Border, the current fabulous competition being run by The List is for you. How do you fancy having a traditional afternoon tea for two with spectacular views at The Tower Restaurant, Edinburgh - sounds like a yummy way to spend an afternoon! To win this lovely prize simply register or log at the website before the closing date of midnight on 17th May 2015.
- Like the sociable idea of a meal and drinks out, but like the comfort of being at home? Why not enter to win a Whisky & Dine experience courtesy of La Belle Assiette worth £630! You and five friends will be treated to a superb four course dinner experience in your own home, prepared by your own private chef, as well as being served five Flavours of Scotch Whisky to accompany each course of your meal provided by Flaviar. To enter simply share the competition page via social media and enter your details before 01:00 on 18th May 2015 – cheers!
- Are you a Night Owl or a Morning Person? Grazia Daily is giving away the ultimate start to the day with Alpro’s Cereal Killer Breakfast rave! The winner and a guest will head off to Camden’s Cereal Killer Cafe to be treated to some fabulous music from renowned DJ Yoda, followed by a delicious super-trendy selection of plant-based brekkie options and the opportunity to have a massage or manicure to start your day in the best possible way. To participate simply enter your email address at the website, and you can enter every day until the closing date of 22nd May 2015 too!
- Do you have someone with a special birthday coming up, or just fancy a treat yourself?. Enter the competition being run by Sainsbury’s Magazine and you and a friend could be off to the iconic and recently transformed Dorchester Hotel restaurant, for a very posh lunch in London’s Mayfair. The prize is worth up to £100 – you could order a lot of tea and sandwiches for that! Enter your details at the website before the closing date of midnight on 31st May 2015 for a chance to win.
- Do you fancy learning how to cook like a Michelin chef, as well as just eat the food cooked by one? Enter the Cornwall Today competition and you could be enjoying a foodie masterclass you will never forget worth £2,500. The prize includes a full day of demonstrations from Michelin starred chef Anton Piotrowski and head chef Ali Fraser including making pasta, filleting fish and planning dinner party menus. You and nine invited guests will be able to sample some of the dishes from their menus, as well as lunch and refreshments being provided. Enter your details at the website before the closing date of midnight on 31st May 2015 to learn how to cook like a pro!
- How about a meal out for two including drinks at Pintura Basque Kitchen & Bar in Leeds? You could be sampling the delicious looking crispy baby squid with squid ink paella, as recreated by the Honest Mum blog. As well as providing the recipe on their blog, they are giving away a meal for 2 at the restaurant in a Rafflecopter competition which closes at midnight on 24th June 2015 – yummy!
Happy weekend comping and lots of Lucky Dust to you all!
Kirsty x
