Confessions of a Sweepstakes Addict

I Love My Dog.... Maybe too much.

2006-02-06T16:43:00.000-06:00

I played the US Gold Game from Kimberly Clark several weeks ago when I first found out about it and wouldn't you know it, I won some stickers on my first time playing it. And while I'm always happy to get a win, it's a bit of a bitter-sweet victory for me when I win something on the very first day of a new contest. Call me crazy but I like to enter sweeps. I like to log on everyday and play the little games and feel the suspense build. And this game seemed fun. Especially since you can play 15X a day. Yeay multiple plays! So I played once, won some photo stickers and that was that. I didn't go back. The sticker code sat in my inbox for a few weeks until I had some stickers of my dog made up. They were cute. And free. So when I was reading through a message board and someone had posted that they won more stickers, I was curious about the rules on winning and went back. Re-read. Saw I was able to win again. I wanted more stickers, so I played. And I won! But not stickers, oh no. Something much better. Something that will let me have as many pictures of my dog posted all over my little indoor world as I like. I won a digital camera and printer dock! LOOK!

(For some reason I can't post photos right now-- I'll try again later)

So I'm way psyched about this one. My only concern is that I won't have it in time for my trip to Italy (dates on that still pending) but even if I don't I'm sure I'll be able to work something out for the trip. And plus now all of those pictures that have been in Digital Photo Jail on my computer will finally be set free and be seen! Yippee!

Want to play the game and win something too?? Click here: http://www.usgoldgame.com/
You need a procuct code but if you don't have one, they supply one for you in the official rules. (yes, it's the code that I won with both times so don't think that the freebie code is a dud.)

Good Luck! And let me know if you win by posting a comment on this entry!

Neikopie's Winning Tally 2006:

02/**/06 Several Sheetz Free Menu Item vounchers ARV: $20.00
02/**/06 Several iTunes Music Download Codes ARV: $10.00
01/29/06 Kodak DPS-C340 Camera & Dock package from US Gold Game ARV: $299.99
01/28/06 Jamba Juice Lighten Up Resistance Bands ARV: $5.00
01/25/06 Wisconsin Cheese Board Instant wins MYSTERY! x 3 ARV: $???
01/21/06 Discovery Health National Challenge Hat ARV: $10.00
01/19/06 Movie Link movie downloads ARV: $5.00
01/**/06 8 iTunes Music Download Codes ARV: $7.92
01/07/06 Misc. Sheetz Free Menu Items Vouchers ARV: $19.00
01/07/06 NFL Bobble Head Doll ARV: $15.00
01/06/06 Misc. Sheetz free menu items vouchers ARV: $22.00
01/06/06 Customizable Photo Stickers ARV: $2.99
01/01/06 $50 Zumiez.com gift card from Slim Jim ARV: $50.00

The Coupon Queen Strikes Again 2

2006-01-18T08:14:00.000-06:00

In using my best judgement, I've come to the conclusion that most anyone who plays this certain sweepstakes instant win game is going to win-- Something. Because over the past few days I've played it and accumulated about $41.00 in free food/drink/misc stuff from Sheetz. Only problem is that I don't live near a Sheetz. I'm pretty sure they are some PA only foody-food place that only Pennsylvanians know about. But if ever I find myself in Phily or the area, I'll never go hungry, thirsty or in need of a quick deal.

Here's a happy dog in dog goggles and a bulletproof vest. --------^

I think I can pack these away with my big win of the WAWA Hoagie coupon. Or if there is someone out there who lives in PA near a Sheetz store and wants to work out some sort of a trade or something, Email me! I've got atleast $41 worth of free stuff vouchers. And will be adding to it everyday.

While I'm on the subject.... Anyone interested in a Bo Bice CD? That bad boy just showed up out of nowhere in the mail the other day. No note, no remarkable address or indication as to what I had won it on. But my sneaking suspicion that I should start entering the non-instants is starting to pay off. How nice.

Any time I have something that I want to offer up, I'll mark the Title of the post like this one is marked (the number being the quantity of offerings). So when you see it, you'll know to go run and get your wallet and SASEs.

And now for the list.

Neikopie's 2006 Winning Tally:

01/**/06 8 iTunes Music download codes ARV: $7.92
01/07/06 Misc Sheetz menu item vouchers ARV: $19.00
01/07/06 NFL Bobble Head Doll ARV: $15.00
01/06/06 Misc. Sheets free menu items vouchers ARV: $22.00
01/06/06 Customizable Photo Stickers ARV: $2.99
01/01/06 $50 Zumiez.com gift card from Slim Jim ARV: $50.00

Snap into a Slim Jim! Ohh Yeah!

2006-01-01T09:50:00.000-06:00

Guess who was lucky and managed to get a peek inside the Fairy Snapmothers Garage!

And guess what I won. No really, come on, Guess.
I'll give you a hint.

It starts with F and ends with ifty.... Dollar Gift Card to Zumiez.com.

Give up?

It's a Fifty Dollar Gift Card to Zumiez.com. Whoo hoo!
I'd never heard of the store before this but a quick tickle of the keyboard showed me the wonderful world of online shopping. Can't wait to get it!

And thus begins the new year, with a new total running tally. Hopefully I can top 2005's wins this year. Starting--------------------- Now.

Neikopie's 2006 Winning Tally:

01/01/06 $50 Zumiez.com gift card from Slim Jim ARV: $50.00

Pterodactyl dreams

2005-12-29T01:36:00.000-06:00

I've come to the conclusion that in order to make some really big scores (aside from my Italy fluke awesome win) I'm going to have to bite the bullet and actually enter sweeps that aren't instant wins. Don't get me wrong, the instant ones are still going to be getting plenty of attention from me. I just think that I had better start putting my eggs into another basket. One that will grow without me knowing it until one day a beautiful baby Flat screen tv hatches out of it. And I'm hoping for a big baby. Like pterodactyl size. Ba-Kaw!

Besides, I might as well get my crappy butterfingers typing speed up and what better way to do that than by entering sweeps. It's a win-win. So that is what I've been doing. And I'm hoping that in a month or so I start seeing random WINNER emails or stuff just showing up on my doorstep. We shall see.

Anyway, there have been a few wins here and there over the past few weeks. I won something from the Timex instant win game but they don't tell you what until 6-8 weeks after the game ends. So it could be a $30 watch (nice) or anything up to a gigantic TV or Computer (um, extra nice). I'm way excited and trying not to think about it too much.

A few others to. Here they be.

Neikopie's Winning Tally:

12/23/05 Pfizer Free Product Redemption book ARV: $50.00
12/20/05 Healing Garden Lotion ARV: $7.49
12/12/05 WAWA Hoagie Coupon ARV: $4.99
12/11/05 Biffle Hero Card (not sure what that is) ARV: $???
12/09/05 Nik-Wax Footwear Cleaning Gel ARV: $6.00
12/08/05 New Faces of Timex - Mystery Prize ARV: $ ???
12/06/05 Oral-B Triumph toothbrush ARV: $139.99
12/06/05 Senseo Coffee Maker and Pods ARV: $120.00
12/05/05 King Kong Movie Poster ARV: $10.00
12/04/05 Armband Radio ARV: $52.50
12/04/05 Crunch Bar ARV: $0.79
12/03/05 Torino Olympic Pin Set ARV: $15.00
12/02/05 King Kong Movie Poster ARV: $10.00
11/28/05 Vaseline Moisture Lotion ARV: $3.49
11/26/05 Crunch Bar ARV: $0.79
11/24/05$10 Disney store GC ARV: $10.00
11/22/05 Shutterfly Greeting Cards ARV: $25.00
11/16/05 Cranium Family Fun Game ARV: $29.99
11/09/05 $10 Disney store GC ARV: $10.00
10/16/05 7 day 6 night inclusive trip to Italy ARV: $11,700.00
10/02/05 Pink Metro Rock Candy Guitar ARV: $400.00

Christmas is coming early 'round here

2005-12-07T23:50:00.000-06:00

Ahhh. The Snow. White blanket covering every inch as far as the eye can see. And the blistering cold weather that brought it, keeping me hostage in my little apartment. Nothing to do but enter sweeps. The past week has been fruitful and my gathering plentiful.

Several wins, listed below, along with a few random 99cent music download codes here and there. My faves in this last batch are the rediculously expensive toothbrush and the cool-ass coffeemaker. I'm dying to have that in my kitchen, making me a cup of coffee whenever I please. I've already named it Betty. Betty the coffee fairy.

As for a pic (which I have vowed that each posting will have), here is a picture of the pumpkin I carved this past Halloween! Strongbad!

Neikopie's Winning Tally:

12/06/05 Oral-B Triumph toothbrush ARV: $139.99
12/06/05 Senseo Coffee Maker and Pods ARV: $120.00
12/05/05 King Kong Movie Poster ARV: $10.00
12/04/05 Armband Radio ARV: $52.50
12/04/05 Crunch Bar ARV: $0.79
12/03/05 Torino Olympic Pin Set ARV: $15.00
12/02/05 King Kong Movie Poster ARV: $10.00
11/28/05 Vaseline Moisture Lotion ARV: $3.49
11/26/05 Crunch Bar ARV: $0.79
11/24/05$10 Disney store GC ARV: $10.00
11/22/05 Shutterfly Greeting Cards ARV: $25.00
11/16/05 Cranium Family Fun Game ARV: $29.99
11/09/05 $10 Disney store GC ARV: $10.00
10/16/05 7 day 6 night inclusive trip to Italy ARV: $11,700.00
10/02/05 Pink Metro Rock Candy Guitar ARV: $400.00

Onto November

2005-11-29T23:33:00.000-06:00

Happily anticipating Italy, I decided to keep at it and try for some more wins. I mean, who wouldn't like a new 61" Flat Screen Plasma for their livingroom? (and no, I haven't won one. Yet.)

By the way, here's a random picture of a goat. ->

So throughout November I pressed on with the Sweeps. And I managed to score a few decent little wins. But my greed got the best of me and I grew tired of having to type out all of my identifiers over and over again just to get an entry into something I MIGHT win. So I only entered the instant win prize sweepstakes. I'd say it turned out alright.

Many little wins which are listed below, plus I'm sure a few here and there that I've forgotten. I'm way psyched!

Here is the new, and improved:

Neikopie's Winning Tally:

11/28/05 Vaseline Moisture Lotion ARV: $3.49
11/26/05 Nestle Crunch Bar ARV: $0.79
11/24/05 $10 Gift card to DisneyStore.com ARV: $10.00
11/22/05 Shutterfly Photo Greeting Cards ARV: $25.00
11/16/05 Cranium Family Fun Game ARV: $29.99
11/09/05 $10 gift card to DisneyStore.com ARV: $10.00
10/16/05 7 Day / 6 Night trip for 4 to Rome, Italy ARV: $11,700
10/02/05 Pink Metro Rock Candy Electric Guitar ARV: $400.00

When in Rome....

2005-10-17T22:48:00.000-05:00

After the guitar was delivered, I was curious to see what the whole "sweepstakes" thing was all about. I figured if I had the dumb luck to win once by only entering once on a website just so I could gain access to read some "members only" content (by the way I think that is complete bollocks when companies make you do that), then I surely could win some more if I actually tried.

And you know what? I was right. Boy was I right.

I did a Google search of "Sweepstakes" and found a site that looked promising. After browsing through the listings on the site, I began to think about it all and considered the amount of spam and other junk I manage to attract without giving out my info to random sites. But I saw a Sweepstakes that was being hosted by a tried and true brand in my family. Entenmanns. You know. Those wonderful little choco glazed doughnuts... the coffee cakes OH! the coffee cakes! And the list goes on. So I figured, what the hell.

I signed up and played their little instant win game..... and lost. Damn.
But I thought back on all the nice times that the Coffee Cakes had shared in my Families life and decided to stick it out. Tried a few more nights in a row, all losing.

Then, just as I began to recoginze the "Sorry, Not a winner" page that followed the game with a jaded and audible sigh, it happened.

Oh, no. They were no longer sorry. They were happy. And so was I!!
Look:

And that was that. I had done it. A grand prize trip for four to Rome, Italy.

I got all the details and will be taking my trip (hopefully) in April '06 if I can get an open booking.

The trip works out to Round Trip airfare for 4 on American Airlines, transportation to and from the airport abroad, 2 double suites for 7 days / 6 nights at the Hotel FortySeven in Rome, a rental car and $1050.00 spending money.

Here's a link to the fabulous hotel that I get to stay at: http://www.summithotels.com/hotel_horizontal.cfm?id=FCOFS&

If anyone has any tips or advice on things to do or see in and around Rome that are not the normal tourist fare, I'd appreciate the comments or an email!

Neikopie Winning Tally:

10/2/05 Pink Metro Rock Candy Electric Guitar ARV: $400.00

10/16/05 7 Day /6 Night trip for 4 to Rome, ITALY!! ARV: $11,700.00

Holy Smokes! I'm a Winner!

2005-10-03T19:40:00.000-05:00

A while back I received an email from a company stating that I had won their sweepstakes. At first glance I thought it was spam and almost deleted it. But after reading further, the details became more and more clear and I realized that it was legit.

After a few exchanges of emails with the company, I was still a bit unsure that I had really won.

But low and behold, a few weeks later the lovely UPS man came a'knocking and handed me my brand new merch.

And thus begins the...

Neikopie Winning Tally:

10/2/05 Pink Metro Rock Candy Electric Guitar ARV: $400.00