How/ Why did you start comping???

Polycopper

Hi All,

Im pretty new to comping- started mid november ish and I was interested in finding out how you all got into entering competitions, was there a reason you started?

For me...well i was involved in a bad motor/pedestrian accident last year a week after i got wed, and still in recovery. Dealing with PTSD it was suggested i think of things i want to try to do around the house to lift my spirits, and this came to mind. Its fairly simple, and gives me some type of purpose i guess.

Within 2 days I had won my first competition, and it was the first time i had laughed for 7 and half months....so thanks to all that post comps! I for one appreciate it.

dizzyc

The first competition I ever entered was on a radio station because the prize was a trip to Florida, it was around 20 years ago (anyone remember Atlantic 252?!)

So I rang up, got through and only went and won the holiday! After that I was hooked and I won loads back in the day when comping wasn;t so popular. I stopped for a few years as I had young kids and couldn't find the time as i was also working but I picked up again around 3 years ago and in that time I've won 3 long-haul holidays (one included my wedding abroad) and I've also won on average 5 -6 smaller items each year. I love it as a hobby but never expect to win anything - and when I do it's a lovely surprise and much appreciated

smeeth

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, I do hope things improve for you, although I'm sure it's a slow process.
Hopefully you're getting all the support you need.

For me I started comping after a family death, it threw everything in the air, especially financially. So I visited MSE then, about 3 years ago now. I found the comping forum and I've been hooked ever since.

Good luck. x

Polycopper

Youre both right....its totally addictive.
It fascinates me that i think everyone will have their own little story as to why they started. i love finding out about peoples stories

dizzyc your wins are absolutely amazing. I think i'd pass out if i won anything like that. Like you i expect to win zero...so it just makes me laugh so much when ive won something...they have been a calendar, and a cake decorating mat.....the first win though was a food hamper.

Thanks Smeeth- lets say im 9 months in...and awaiting operation no. 4, all because i got out of my car on a carpark- but im lucky to be here to tell the tale!!! Anyway What has your most favourite win been???

Im still trying to figure out this forum, so im pretty useless. As well as twitter -gives me a headache haha. twitter just doesnt make sense...im doing something but whether its the right thing who knows.

fuzz62

mine was the birth of our 3rd child, a few months after dads where allowed to take part of the maternity leave off the mother i decided i would take 2 months off. well after my first week i was booooooooooored (apart from baby stuff of course) anyway i was reading MSE and discovered a section on boosting your income, although i knew it wouldnt be simple i wondered how long it would take and how many i would have to do before i won anything. well it took less than a month for me although it was a dress (expensive -ish) it hooked me ... well nearly i just do what i like and no daily/mags.

Mark

Polycopper

thanks for sharing mark. How come you dont do the mags/dailys? do you find they are pointless? I hope you have had a lot of wins since your dress.
You are actually local to me...im in bolton.

Verksies

I started back in uni, mostly to try and win some things I might be unable to afford but really wanted! Won quite a few things, from holidays to food hampers.. all of which were more than welcome!

Just_a_girl

For me a few years ago, I had a really quiet spell at work and just entered a few competitions, I won a little Eco tech cordless hoover within a few weeks and have been hooked since.
Its not guaranteed, and like everyone have had some dry spells, but i try to enter enough to boost my chances of winning and last year I added about £5500 to my income through wins, which is great since I now work Part time because of the little one!

**Ignore my signature: My computer died in May so I lost track of my wins, Gotta update it for this year!!

sax11

i started as i'm skint and want to sell anything and everything i receive on ebay

isn't that what everyone does

CCP

I entered the odd competition here and there for ages, but started comping 'properly' (i.e. entering lots of competitions, using the MSE comps board, rather than just doing the odd one or two) after winning a competition in November 2013 - it was a 'vote-for-me' type comp so wasn't on the MSE forum, but I kind of got the bug after winning that!

sax - not me! I don't use ebay so my attempts at selling the odd unwanted prize haven't been very successful for me. I'll have to have another go as I've got a few bits left from a beauty hamper that I won last year that I won't use (makeup that's the wrong colour etc) and it seems a shame to have them sitting around.

sax11

i was taking the !!!! as thats why i'm sure a lot of the 'new' ones do it , then moan they've not won, then give up