Just a few questions...

niftythrifty33

This is the first time I've posted on this board. I really want to get into comping especially as I have a bit of free time at the moment. I just wondered, after reading posts on here it seems lots of people enter around 200-300 per day taking 2 to 3 hours. If you spent the same time doing a job earning minimum wage surely you could probably have bought the things you've won and had extra left over? so is it just the thrill of winning or is because it uses free time up that you would have otherwise spent doing boring stuff? I hope this doesn't sound offensive as that's not my intention, I just wanted to know before I spend hours and get addicted

Also are there any tips that are worth knowing? I also wondered whether the reason why I'm getting more and more cold calls is because of doing comps?

I have never won anything but would love to just to make it worthwhile sitting here for the past few hours
Thanks everyone

emmaglet

As everyone says, don't get into comping expecting to win.

I live a very thrifty lifestyle, and comping to me is window shopping. I add a bunch of things I might like but can't justify spending money on (regardless of what is in my bank account) and then I randomly get one. Or two. I won a £3k holiday - it is two nights in a stately home. I'd NEVER ever spend that much on two nights - a 23 day trip to Florida, with all theme park tickets, for two of us, is costing that. But I've got a nice life experience that I'd never normally do.

The same goes for skincare - I won skincare stuff worth £250 - I normally get mine from Poundland.

It really is a hobby for me - a hobby I love.

fire**fly

hi & welcome to the comps board

IMHO best tips are in the compers guide here..
(apologies if you've already seen it)

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1014121

don't know about lots of others but i'm retired after working from the age of 15 upwards & have now finished
i know of quite a few other retired peeps who do comping for a hobby on here as well
compers aren't all young ones some of us are grandma's & grandad's
even if we've been comping for years as well:D

niftythrifty33

Thanks for the replies, I hadn't seen the link so will look at it now.

I cans ee why everyone does it and I enjoy doing them I just wonder if I'll ever win as doing 200-300 per day seems loads! I would LOVE to win a hotel break or a little holiday

angiesandhu

Hi, and welcome to the world of comping. I know where you are coming from but I don't think anyone would give up a job or anything like that just to comp. It tends to be something we do if we have free time.

Many of us are at home for various personal reasons and manage to enter a lot. Others are doing it before and after work (and during!).

I don't do it as a job to earn money, but do it as I love the possibility of winning.

I don't expect to win-otherwise I would be very disappointed!

This is just my view and I am sure others have theirs xx

Good luck with all your comping!

niftythrifty33

Thanks Angie, looks like we both posted at the same time, good luck with your comping too

mjm3346

niftythrifty33 wrote: »

especially as I have a bit of free time at the moment. I just wondered, after reading posts on here it seems lots of people enter around 200-300 per day taking 2 to 3 hours. If you spent the same time doing a job earning minimum wage surely you could probably have bought the things you've won and had extra left over?

You have for some people answered your own question there
"I have a bit of free time at the moment".
Where could you find a job that you could do just when you have bits of spare time scattered through the day or night, could be doing other things at home while you do it, that takes no time or cost to get to and has no tax to pay?

For some it is a hobby/bit of fun so time vs possible income does not matter.

Don't be misled by the "lots of people enter around 200-300 per day", most forum users do not post on the board so those that do tend to be the "hard core compers" and are probably nothing like a representative sample.


(Last year and so far this I would have to have worked well over 20 hours a week every week to get anywhere near the value of my winnings and that assumes there would be no travel costs or time taken to get to a job)

Blulu

I think it's a bit like dabbling with drugs. You just do a few comps at first, then you get your first hit/win and it feels soooooooo good. Soon you come back for more, and more, and a higher dose of comps.

Seriously though, I think what you said is spot on. Other than a few lucky ones, like with our recent 20k winner, the hourly rate is way below the minimum wage. Having said that apart from the fun/hobby aspect, it is a way of trying to make a little extra while sat at home watching TV or whatever. Especially so for anyone who can't work or hasn't been able to find a job.

And no offense taken at all. It's good to tell it like it is. As others have said, it would be a mistake to think of it as any sort of secure income.

Hope you win and get hooked very soon.

Blu X

emmaglet

Blulu wrote: »

Having said that apart from the fun/hobby aspect, it is a way of trying to make a little extra while sat at home watching TV or whatever. Especially so for anyone who can't work or hasn't been able to find a job.

I cannot just sit and watch TV. I have to be doing something else, so comping is great to fit alongside.

grannybiker

I too comp while watching TV- at last, an excuse to sit on my bum & multi-task!
Some folk may scoff, but then spend hours on Farmville & Candycrush - at least I stand a chance of some nice surprises when the postie calls.
(And yes, you do get a LOT of extra emails due to all the "Newsletter" etc. I always tick no to phone calls, & avoid giving my number if possible, but there are a few that trickle through.)
I've also met some lovely folk via here & on Facebook that would have remained strangers were it not for comping. (You know who you are xx !)

Barnabysue

You don't need to enter hundreds every day to be lucky. My Daughter's friend only enters the odd holiday comp and has been to Memphis and Grenada on wins and also a few UK breaks.