Could be a full-time job

OK, after only three days at my little experiment I've decided it could probably be a full-time job if I let it. But no, I already have one of those.

Spent about two hours yesterday doing contest/sweepstakes research and then about an hour this morning entering all the ones I found that had entry deadlines in the next week. Figure that's what I'll have to do (fill out entries one week at a time) until I develop a system or quit.

But it's been interesting so far. After three days I've entered 10 contests or sweepstakes for everything from a Ford F-150 to $250 in hot dogs. Oh, and cameras, gas cards, vacations ... you get the idea. That's an average of about 3.3 contests entered per day, so I figure in a year I'll have entered more than 1,000 contests. Even a smuck like me should be able to win some stuff entering that many contests, right?

In the past three days I've also done a couple of multiple entries, you know where you can enter the same contest once each day - thus increasing your odd of winning, of course (yeah, right). Most of these have been giveaways offered through a Facebook page called, surprise, Big Prize Giveaway. You have to be a Facebooker to enter, but if you already are it might be worth your time to become a fan and try entering a few of this as well as they offer a variety of items such as cameras, computers, gift cards, etc.

We that's it for today, something good's coming on TV so gotta run (hey this is not my full-time job, remember!).

Welcome to Day 1

For years, I have wondered:

1. How much money or stuff, and
2. What kind of stuff,

could a person win if they entered every FREE contest or sweepstakes possible when they had the opportunity. So I decided to make 2010 the year to pursue this experiment.

Since I suspect many people probably have the same questions and even more are interested in winning stuff, I decided I should create this blog to document the experiment and share whatever information comes from it. Hopefully, I can point folks to some tips, interesting contests they can also participate in and insight into whether or not being a contestant is worthwhile.

I plan to track all my contest entries using an database so I'll know what I've entered and when as well as the results. I've created this database online through Google so I can access and update it from any location while entering contests or updating the blog. Suspecting that entering so many contests (many of which will require an email address) may also lead to a serious flood of spam, I have also created a separate email account to use just for this project. I also assume that one of the results of this experiment will be a flood of junk mail to the real mailbox in front of my house. I'll certainly let you know if anything interesting turns up.

My efforts won't be limited just to online contests, because there are always opportunities presenting themselves to drop your name in cardboard-and-tape contest boxes as we go about our lives in the brick-and-mortar world.

I also have a life, so I don't plan on this becoming some sort of obsession - more like an amusement that I can enjoy when I'm not otherwise working or playing. My expectations for this experiment are realistic as well: It may be a complete waste of time but it's the unknown aspect of it that makes it interesting.

Of course, I'm only a couple of hours into the experiment (haven't even officially entered any contests yet) and I already wonder if maybe I've bitten off more than I can chew. A 5-minute Google search turned up Contestgirl's site, that lists several thousand online contests in the US and Canada. She does offer some good tips, however, for those interested in the contest game.

Well enough of this, time to go enter a few contests and see what happens.