freebie giveaways in mags etc..has anyone had any ?

I tried it for 9 month about 3yrs ago. I did every one I could find, in magazines, on internet, I even subscribed to a special paper that found these freebies and competitions for you and supplied you with all the contact details, answers and all the info you might need.
I didn't get a single one....

But saying that it is law of average.
If you don't do it, you wont win. I guess I was just unlucky.

I won a family pass to Warwick Castle

I have always found local newspapers much better when it comes to prizes, I have won over a couple of years, many prizes

£120 cash
Portable colour TV
A year's supply of Braces bread
A year's supply of cat food
A Thorntons Chocolate Hamper
6 x lots of circus tickets
First aid covers and stamps
Sticker albums and stickers
Toys for the children
A meal for 6 people at a Beefeater
A children's party for 10 children at local Beefeater

and lots more I cannot remember, I always enter the local paper competitions and went through a time when my name was constantly in the paper for winning; so much so I went to post a letter off and the cashier in the post office saw my return address and said oh you are the one that keeps winning the competitions that I enter !!

Magazines I don't tend to enter as there are so many other people entering them too. Welshy x

How funny Welshy, we have something else in common apart from 4 children and frantic coupon-use!

I also enter local competitions when I have the time, before kids I went thru' a phase of entering comps every week, and won loads of bits & pieces. I have also had success from entering magazine comps and freebie-offers:

From magazine freebies/comps over the years, that I can remember:

£5,000 to spend on a new bathroom
4-night break for 4 at Butlins (so I booked for 6 and just paid for 2 kids)
£100 worth of clothing
£150 baby changing unit (won when last DS was born, then sold it on for £50)
Other baby stuff, nappy wrapper, etc
Car hire for a weekend
Cleaning stuff, vouchers and products (and a cleaner for 3 hours)
Family ticket to local adventure fun/farm park
Loads of lipsticks/cosmetics which arrive in the post out of the blue...

Can't recall anything else as many were years ago.

I think the 'send off your name & address' ones are worth a go (the Butlins break was from Woman magazine so not just a local one). My tip would be send off your entry by 2nd class (to save postage) but time it so that you are not sending it too early. I always feel it should arrive on or just before the closing date, so your postcard would be on the top of the pile!? :rolleyes:

Also use cheap postcards (can be found for 5p in charity shops etc) which are colourful, rather than a plain sealed envelope. Works for me!