I also am entering as many contests as possible to see what I win. There was a comedian in Japan who was locked up in an apartment with magazines and postcards and all he had to eat, drink, wear and... whatever was what he won. I do not want to go that far, the cats would kill me, but I am just seeing what I can do.
Remember that surveys are also a good way of getting prizes and freebies.
Here is a tally of my contest and survey 'winnings'
On 1-11-2, I received a box of cereal to try out. Food for survey.
On 3-6-2, I received a sample of foundation make-up as a sample product. Sample site.
On 3-25-02, I received a Tide Kick because I went to the Tide.com site. As of 6-8-3, I still haven't used it - I generally use a powder laundry detergent. The cats love to play with it, though.
On 4-3-02, I received a sample of Rimmel lipstick (Available Exclusively at Wall-Mart) I do not remember how I signed up for it...
on 4-4-2, I received a sample of tampons. I really need to keep track of where I signed up for things.
4-9-2, I just received an e-mail saying I was a winner! And it wasn't even from PCH! Printed Creations sent a preprinted Babysitter Notes when I went to Shopping With Women.
On 5-1-2, I received a package from Olay. I have had great success in getting freebies out of Procter and Gamble and I suggest you try, too. This time, I have a sample of the Total Effects Daily Cleaning Treatments (wash cloth) and a tube of Moisturizing Vitamin Complex (moisturizer). Perfect size to go into the Pack.
I received a $5 check from a survey site! Wow, I have lunch money! Now, if only I could remember what site that was...
July 2002 At MacWorld in New York City, I won a set of Bongo Ties from CoolMacStuff. There was some schwag, too. A battery operated personal fan from ATI, a fly swatter from Testing Testing 123, candy from everywhere, posters from Harmon, Apple and Epson... Generally a good haul, but not as much as I expected.
7-26-02 Another Olay sample came in. Olay Complete (UV defense moisture lotion). Now, if only I went out into the daylight...
8-5-2 I had gone to a new site, eye-scrub.com, and they sent me a sample of a new product. It is an eye make up remover pad that is formulated for contact wearers and others who need hypoallergenic make up removal. (o.k., this is one of my peeves- make up, by it's nature, is not hypoallergenic. Why put something on you that you know you will react to and then complain about it when you do? Gah. End of rant.)
8-12-02 For filling out a series of surveys for Shoppers Voice, I was sent a package of coupons for things I would never buy, and a sample of a new Ziploc product, Double Guard Freezer Bags. I'll see if it really does protect against freezer burns... It even has a Beef seal of approval.
8-28-02 Not an online contest, but I called into my favorite radio station,
WMMM105.5FM and
answered a trivia question. As if I didn't know James T. Kirk's middle name...
Won a gift certificate to a local restaurant. Never been to Rory's Casual
Cuisine, we'll have to see.
Update on Rory's - the food was excellent, but the service sucked - it took 1/2 hour to get water and then almost another 1/2 hour to order... A meal that should have taken about 2 hours(a fine restaurant) took almost 4...
9-6-02 Won a free movie rental at Blockbuster from Suzuki. And a chance to get $500 off a new car...
Rant warning-
This reminds me why I don't rent at Blockbuster. They do not have titles
from independent film makers, like Mike Jittlov. What films they do have are
sometimes edited for content, without a proper warning on the box. Have you
ever seen an edited version of Pulp Fiction? I have.
End of Rant
I have a movie review page up now.
On 10-21-02, I received a sample of Snuggle Ultra, Pure & Gentle. It is supposedly a fabric softener without any dyes or skin irritants. I thought that was why people used fabric softener... I think I went to Snuggle.com for the sample.
On 10-25-02 I received a sample of a Coppertone sunless tanning product. Um, since I can remember, tanning isn't really safe for you, and wouldn't a product that gives you an artificial tan be just as bad? Oh, well. I'm going to try it anyway. There is enough in the sample to do a credit card sized area, so I am trying to figure out where I want to put that...
11-10-02 Received a sample of Advil Liqui-Gels. I am not sure where I signed up for it as the paperwork along with it didn't have anything but a 'thank you for your interest' note and a coupon. I will be using the coupon.
On 4/24/03 I received a box with a catfood sample. Fancy Feast is introducing catfood that is better than most people food. I have 9 ungrateful, rotten cats, so the 1/2 ounce can will be a treat for them to fight over...
on 6-5-3, I came home to find that Redken had left a package on my doorstep. I won a full sized bottle of their Clean Lift 'Pure Volume Gel'. I have very long hair and it can get a little flat sometimes... I will try it out for a special occasion, though I am not sure that the 8.5 oz. will be enough.
The way things work out, I updated the site, then checked my email. The email telling me I had won and it would be shipped in 6 to 8 weeks was sitting there...
Wonderful how these things happen.
6-23-03 Herbal Essences sent me a sample of their new Intensive Blends Shampoo and Conditioner. With my long hair, I hope it really does lather as well as they are promoting... They have come a long way from the green plastic bottle with the picture of a lady with a garden growing out of her head.
6-24-03 Olay sent me more goop to put on my skin - I mean, they sent me a sample of their new Total Effects Night Firming Cream. It is just big enough to put into any purse and will be used when I can get time to use the bathroom without the help of the cats. Have you ever tried a 'beauty regimen' with the help of fourlegged fur factories? Difficult at best. I try to make my own creams like this, though not with 5 syllable ingredients.
In early July, 2003, I am not sure when because of internal mail difficulties at home, I received an 'award' from one of the survey places I participate in, Synovate. A pack of cards... How do you use those? I am so used to solitaire on the computer, I am not sure I would be able to use real cards for a real game. They sent me a magnetic calendar in December, too. I guess every 6 months or so, just for taking surveys, you get crap. Kinda cool!
Just at the cusp of July/August, 2003, I received a package from proctor and gamble. It is a sample box, so I threw it into my bag to bring to work to enter in here without really looking at what it was that was sent. The deities have a sense of humor, a wicked one at that, for when I did come to work this morning, I found I had my period. Not a devastating thing, just inconvenient. I went to see what the sample was and laughed. It is a sample of the new Tampax tampons with the Pearl plastic applicator. A little over packaged, but useful. The one thing that is oddly funny about the presentation is the 'scratch and sniff' for the scent of the tampons. Excuse me, but I generally do not want to smell my feminine protection... I do not have a direct web link for them, but look for them out there!
I also get information packets and such from Visitor and Tourist groups. I keep those under Travel Trips.
October 2003, I received a $20.00us check from SurveySpot. It is a survey company that has an ongoing sweepstakes and incentive program. I really suggest you join so you can get paid to tell them what you think! For many of the survey places out there, there is some sort of incentive program, and I will try to have a list of survey websites soon!
2-18-04 Olay sent me another sample, this one Age Defying something or other... Oh, here it is- Total Effects 7. Enough to go on about 1 square inch of skin... I will try it, though, because I am a sample slut.
3-5-04 Ipsos, a survey company, sent me a full sized bottle of Cascade dish washer detergent to try and report on. I think this is such a great opportunity. I have been with many survey companies, but this is one of the best offers yet.
7-12-04 Olay, yet again, sent me a sample, this time of the Complete Defense daily uv moistureizer. It is a little oily, and I had a pimple reaction, but that is always a risk with things that have very little natural ingredients.
8-6-04 Synovate, a consumer study group, sent me a water bottle. It is a wide-mouthed bottle with a leashed top. I think I will be able to use a filter in it. It does not have a spout, but it does have ml/oz measurements on the side to 500ml/16oz.
8-27-04 Dove sent me a sample from their new line of Dove Face Care. An spf 15 day lotion meant to hydrate my skin while keeping UV rays from damaging it. O.k.. I'll try it!
10-4-04 This list is actually getting kinda impressive! On the same day, I recieved a sample pack from Balance with Go Mix and a Balance energy bar. Alright trail mix - though the toffee flavour was a bit too sweet - and the bar is still waiting to be et. The second thing I got was from L'oreal/Redken, a texturizing spray for my hair. It is a full bottle of it, so I should be able to use it more than once!
It has been a while since I updated things here... on 11-18-05, I received a sample of Expecta from Enfimil. I am no longer pregnant, but the 'extra support' that this suppliment gives may still work for everyday life. There was a coupon in the package, too, which I will be giving to a freind who is pregnant.
11-04-05 Procter and Gamble sent a sample of their Swaddlers' newborn diaper.
4-6-06 With Easter two weeks away, I just recieved a storybook from FamilyTime from entering one of their contests. It is an easter story... with a 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' style theme. I will keep it, but I may use it as a gift to someone.
7-6-06 Found a box with a sample of Tide with Febreeze. It was from Fresh Approach.
2-20-07 Rec'd a recipie book from Karo.
8-11-07 A sample of Honey Bunches of Oats arrived. Yum!
10-1-07 A sample of Garden Harvest Toasted Chips from Nabisco/Kraft just arrived! Yay! I can eat this week... ;) Two flavors - Apple cinnamon and Tomato Basil along with a coupon. Update 1-20-08 - I have been geting the Bananna flavor at the Dollar store instead of paying over $3 a bag at the regular grocery store. Crispy and a wonderful instant breakfast snack.
12-6-07 Another free sample from Fancy Feast/Purina. The cats eat today!
Happy New Year - On 1-19-08, I received one of several cookbooks available from Sun Maid - the Fruit and Sunshine recipe book. 1-22-08 "The Sun-Maid way to 5 a day: Recipes for Healthier Eating" came in.
1-22-08 GE Lighting sent me a DVD with Home Makeover Projects using lighting techniques.
1-22 08 A touring guidebook from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration arrived. Several great national roadways are highlighted.
1-30-08 The Blue Buffalo Company sent me a sample of their catfood. It came with a coupon and a neat sticker.
2-21-08 Tyson, the poultry company, has several things you can ask for, and I just received one today. 'Giving thanks at Mealtime' is a good book of mealtime prayers. I am not really into the form they have (since I am not Christian), but I believe that for survival, you need a basis in faith.