Why I Love Comping -mexinter

My dream prize - a Holiday to New York (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Entering competitions is a passion on mine. It all started when I was in school. I won a poetry competition when I was 11 - the prize was a ribbon, something simple but it was the sense of achievement that made me excited, someone actually liked my poem! When I was 15 I won a competition with Smith's crisps and Boots No 17. It was a slogan competition -  the tiebreaker was "Why do you like Smith's Crisps" and you had to answer in under 10 words. There was a number of runners up prizes and I was delighted to find out I won concert tickets to see the pop group King. My slogan I remember to this day. "Smith's crisps are the crispiest crisps created!". Not bad for a 15 year old, I must say.

I have been lucky enough to win on a regular basis since I started entering competitions more often about two years ago. The prizes I love the most are the experiences that I wouldn't have bought myself such as a weekend in Bristol for the food festival with a stay in the Hotel Du Vin and deluxe 6 course meal with Michelin star chef. It was an amazing weekend. 

My family find my comping funny on times, sometimes they feel its an anti climax when I get my wins. I always remember the time I won a toy snake and when it arrived it only had one eye! But when all is said and done they can't really complain. My son needed a computer for school and I was lucky to win him not one but two all the the space of 10 days. I was totally gobsmacked as I had never won one before let alone two in a matter of days.

I like to enter competitions where there is some effort involved as these often are lower entry. Last year Quidco was running a competition with a number of prizes. To enter you had to make a thirty second video about an award ceremony as it was a tie in to the Oscars. Myself and my son worked on the idea of the Quidco Globes, and we wrote and devised a video made with lego characters. We didn't win first prize but we were so pleased with second - a Smart TV! It felt all the more wonderful as we put so much time and effort into the competition.

When I asked some of my 'comping' friends why they enjoy their hobby these are some of the answers they came up with.

"I get shiny new things that I can't afford and things that aren't bills from the postman." 

"The thrill of the win whether big or small and the fact that I win not just for me but for family and friends."

"The buzz of seeing my name announced, it doesn't matter if the win is big or small."

"Because of the little luxuries you just wouldn't go and buy."

"I started comping out of boredom but still remember that first win and the buzz it gave me.  When I won my phone I was over the moon but still didn't expect it to turn up!" 

"It gives me something that is relatively productive to do much better than an online game."

"I love comping because i've just come back from a lovely prize holiday to Rome. Comping has taken me to places that I'd never have been able to visit and the best hotels I couldn't possibly afford to pay for. Oh and I came back to a win of Oven Cleaner - the variety of comping!"

"I think I've always comped even as a child - I've never excelled at anything in school or work but I have had success in comping. I have been able to provide all sort of treats over the years that money can't buy."

As you can see entering competitions can be a worthwhile hobby. Do you enter competitions? What has been your best or most unusual win? Be lucky!