Extreme Sweepstakes- Do you participate?

[DisneyMandC]

So I know this TV show is older, but some friends and I were talking about the show that used to come on TLC (I believe) called Extreme Sweepstakes. As you can guess from the title, it was similar to Extreme Couponing yet all about people who just spend hours a day entering contests and sweepstakes (apparently there's a difference) and all of the prizes they have one. Just out of curiosity, does anyone here participate in this activity? Where do you find these sweepstakes? I feel like this must take a lot of time. However, I'm sure people say that about couponing as well, and I love doing that. What's the biggest prize you've ever one, or some of the coolest?

I'm not necessarily planning on taking this up as a hobby, but just thought it would be interesting to see if anyone partakes in this. I do know that there can be tax consequences as a result of what you win.

The main prizes I can think of having won (just out of pure "put your name in the hat" type stuff) is two tickets to our local ballet, a pair of boots (I'm a horseback rider), an iPad, and an iPad mini. I sold both of the iPads as I already have an iPhone, an iPod, and a Macbook Pro and didn't really see the need for another piece of technology.

 

[eyor44]

I do sweepstakes on a regular basis, but not like some do. I have won a $25 GC and 2 tickets to Sea World from Coke Rewards. A miniature of one of the statues from one of the Disney Cruise ships from a travel agency and a Disney Cruise from Disney for playing a game every day for a month. That was a fun game and prize.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I do sweepstakes on a regular basis, but not like some do. I have won a $25 GC and 2 tickets to Sea World from Coke Rewards. A miniature of one of the statues from one of the Disney Cruise ships from a travel agency and a Disney Cruise from Disney for playing a game every day for a month. That was a fun game and prize.

Wow! That's pretty great! Where do you find all of these to enter? I always enter when Disney gives away a vacation, but I feel like I never actually hear about someone winning anything haha.

 

[AZMermaid]

I just won a big 101 Dalmations plush from Disney movie rewards, wasn't the trip to London but it's something! As a kid, I entered these Nickelodeon summer sweepstakes. I won a playground ball and a farting Ren doll!

 

[justlook3]

I used to do it pretty regularly, but it got boring. Especially when the wins started drying up. Nearly 10 years ago I won a trip to Ireland, so that was something! That was my biggest win other than a $500 Ikea gift card. In the past I've won baseball and concert tickets, movie admission, various small prizes and a couple of runner up prize packs (one was a Rachael Ray contest, I won some DVDs and a couple of cute movie night things and Kiehl's gift set). It is time consuming though which is why I don't do it so much any more.
Oh I remember that Disney Cruise game! That one I had so much fun playing, it's so cool to hear you actually won.

 

[DisneyMandC]

A trip to Ireland is pretty impressive! I'd love to win one of the Disney trips, or a trip anywhere really!

 

[justlook3]

It was amazing! I figured I used up all my trip winning karma with that though! But I hear of people who win multiple trips.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I enter a lot of book contests from Goodreads and from various bloggers. I have my summer reading pile ready to go. Just got 2 books in the mail today. I enter a lot of blog contests because they seem the most easiest to win. I donate alot of the stuff I win. Biggest things I won this year are 2 $25 gift certificates. One I will use to buy school supplies or christmas gifts for those in need.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I enter a lot of book contests from Goodreads and from various bloggers. I have my summer reading pile ready to go. Just got 2 books in the mail today. I enter a lot of blog contests because they seem the most easiest to win. I donate alot of the stuff I win. Biggest things I won this year are 2 $25 gift certificates. One I will use to buy school supplies or christmas gifts for those in need.

I didn't realize Goodreads had contests! I have my lists of books on there and browse it for things to read, but am not very actively involved. I may have to check that out.

 

[buzz2400]

I have entered a lot of contests but the biggest prize was i think $2,000. I win a lot of little things like candy bars, music downloads, movie tickets, tshirts. Im getting tired of it and have slowed down on entering. Still dreaming of winning a disney trip.

I find the contests on contestgirl.com, onlinesweepstakes.com and mousesavers.com

 

[AP1209]

I have been sweeping for about 3 months now. I first started just entering the a Disney contests on mouse savers but then I though that there must be a lot of contests and sweepstakes for other things as well. I use contestgirl and I probably spend about 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day entering contests. I don't know how long I'll do it but it keeps me entertained right now. I've won numerous small things like candy bars and music downloads but here is a list of my "major wins":

Beats by Dre headphones
$50 visa giftcard
$50 for hsn.com
$10 autozone giftcard
Nail polish gift set
$5 Dairy Queen giftcard
Pair of sunglasses

 

[DisneyMandC]

I find the contests on contestgirl.com, onlinesweepstakes.com and mousesavers.com

I have been sweeping for about 3 months now. I first started just entering the a Disney contests on mouse savers but then I though that there must be a lot of contests and sweepstakes for other things as well. I use contestgirl and I probably spend about 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day entering contests. I don't know how long I'll do it but it keeps me entertained right now. I've won numerous small things like candy bars and music downloads but here is a list of my "major wins":

Beats by Dre headphones
$50 visa giftcard
$50 for hsn.com
$10 autozone giftcard
Nail polish gift set
$5 Dairy Queen giftcard
Pair of sunglasses

Thanks for the tips on contestgirl! I'll have to try to check that out. Is mousesavers usually just Disney trips, etc.? I think I've checked out their website before, but it was a while ago. That's still a pretty impressive set of stuff you've won!

 

[guinea pig]

I use onlinesweepstakes.com. I do pay $30 for a Premium membership to have access to the best sweeps. I like that I save the sweeps I want to MySweeps on that website so when I enter every day, all my sweeps are organized.

 

[AP1209]

Thanks for the tips on contestgirl! I'll have to try to check that out. Is mousesavers usually just Disney trips, etc.? I think I've checked out their website before, but it was a while ago. That's still a pretty impressive set of stuff you've won!

Thanks! Still waiting for a BIG win but winning small prizes keeps me going. Mousesavers is mostly Disney but it also had stuff for Univeral, seaworld, etc..basically Orlando stuff.

 

[powellrj]

I have a friend that does. She wins lots of sports tickets and concert tickets.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I use onlinesweepstakes.com. I do pay $30 for a Premium membership to have access to the best sweeps. I like that I save the sweeps I want to MySweeps on that website so when I enter every day, all my sweeps are organized.

Do you find you make back what you pay for the service? I'm always skeptical of using any of the coupon services that pay for it just because it feels like a waste to pay money when I'm trying to save money.

 

[guinea pig]

I usually do! Have had a LONG dry spell... Have won trip to Orlando, washer, dryer, dishwasher, $3,500 gift card, 2 airline tickets in the past. Now I win lots of free candy bars! Just won $5 gift card to DQ and a $5 gift card to Restaurant.com couple days ago. I find this site is easy to use and easy to keep the sweeps I want to enter organized.

 

[DisneyMandC]

I usually do! Have had a LONG dry spell... Have won trip to Orlando, washer, dryer, dishwasher, $3,500 gift card, 2 airline tickets in the past. Now I win lots of free candy bars! Just won $5 gift card to DQ a couple days ago.

Wow! Now when you win something like a trip, is that something you have to report for taxes? Or is it just when you win cash, gift cards, etc.? I didn't know if maybe you had to report the cash value of the trip.

 

[guinea pig]

Any win over $600 is subject to taxes. Basically the ARV of the prize will be added to your income for tha year. I am very careful about what sweeps I enter esp those with high retail value that I would not
really want or use.

 

[ksh1111]

I spend about an hour a day entering sweepstakes, though I mainly focus on travel sweeps, since that is our passion. I use About Sweepstakes for a weekly listing and Infinite Sweepstakes for a daily one. If I am traveling or busy, I don't bother.

Last 12 months win (that I can think of off top of head)

Disney Cruise from Alamo Coast to Castle Sweepstakes
Bud Light Ultimate Weekend trip for 4 to a Football game of our choice
$3000 trip voucher and $500 gift card to Gilt.com
Several $25 gift cards
4 tshirts
lots of candy coupons

Everything is taxed, though the value can be disputed. Our football weekend was reported as taxable $10,900, though I had kept good notes on the cost of the hotel rooms, airfare, food vouchers, gift cards, car services, etc, so I reported it as $8000. Not a huge savings, but since it reports directly into income (unless you have gambling losings to offset it), every bit helps.

Most of them are very time sensitive in accepting prize, so checking email or phone messages is key. I had 12 hours to accept the Bud Light prize, and I made it by 15 minutes!