I thought i would start this mission as i quite often get asked (and brag to others ;) ) about how i make a bit of extra money and get so many free products and samples. I thought if i write it all down here them i can just pass a link on of how i do it. All i ask for the information i have provided is that if i have put a link up, use it as chances are its a referral link and helps me out a little ;)
So first of a bit about me. My names Kim, i'm 22 from Stoke-On-Trent, I have a son, Rusty, who is 3 and im due any time with number 2 :) (who we hope to be a boy names Joseph). I live with my other half Andrew who is a plasterer in the Hanley area.
Competitions
I enter 90% of my competition through a great website that's goes by the name of The Prize Finder. Once you find your way over there make sure to register as you can keep track of all the competitions you enter!.
The other 10% of comps i enter are ones i Google for certain things i want to win such as a Furby for Rusty.
I'll Google 'Furby competitions' and 9/10 one will pop up. Also local competitions there are less people to compete against as its only local :)
My Personal Tips for Comping
- Don't give up! you will win, maybe not today or tomorrow, this month or next month but keep with it and prizes will start landing on your door step (or inbox).
- Use Google Chrome as a web browser, they have a feature which remembers your name, address, phone number ect so you don't have to type out every single form individually.
- Create a username, email and password just for comping and keep it the same! then when you sign up to sites to enter competitions all information is the same and you don't have to keep track of all the different information you enter.
- Google yourself!! i find this one a must!. On 2 or 3 occasions i have Googled my name (out of curiosity) and found i have won prizes on sites, but i have to contact them to claim it. I now Google myself weekly.
- Check your spam, You will find with entering comps you will start getting more junk mail, but make sure you go through it all! there could be a surprise win in there somewhere, the same goes for the 'other' folder on Facebook, I've found a win in there before too!
- Don't be shy to enter 'share' comps on Facebook or twitter, at first i was embarrassed and thought it made me look cheap and desperate... But your friends want to enter these comps too!! so share share share!!!
- The more unusual the prize the better chance you have of winning. People are more likely to go for the big prize comps, but that Cliff Richard calender competition may just have your name written all over it and your mum/nan/auntie will love it in their Christmas stocking. My brother who loves Photography Is now receiving a photography book at some point this year thanks to a competition i entered and won :) Its a free gift!
- Put some effort in!!. That drunken snap of you doing the robot that you don't want anyone to see??? use it for a photo comp they are less popular therefor easier to win, whats a bit of humiliation ?
Free samples
These are getting less popular i must admit but there are still a good fair few dotted about. I was recently packing my hospital bag and while packing i was moaning to myself about how much room my shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste ect was taking up... then i remembered a few years ago i used to order free samples if all this kind of stuff! so i set of on my little mission and my hospital bag is now packed full of free samples of things like tooth paste, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and moisturizer which take up barely any room and cost nothing.
My personal tips for freebies
- Google is your best friend! you will be surprised how searching Google for 'free baby samples UK' can get you free nappies, nappy cream, money of vouchers, weaning materials ect.
- Every little helps. It really does! they are ideal for sleep overs, swimming, weekends away where full size products bulk out your Bag.
- Use them as gifts, make up a mini hamper using your free teabags for your nan, pop a book in there, some biscuits a bit of hand cream and a candle... she will love it!.
- Repeating myself here but Using Google Chrome as a browser, it will save your details and save you so much time filling in forms.
- Email company's asking if they have any free samples to offer as you would like to try their product. You will be surprised how many will give you free stuff!.
- Thank them, a quick thank you email could earn you some money of vouchers ;).
Free full sized Products
Just a quickie on this as i don't know much about it how to get free full sized products. My only way is being a BzzAgent. Which means i get sent free full sized products to test and then review. My most recent campaign earned me x2 full sized tins of Doves new compressed deodorant , x8 50p of coupons for this product which can be redeemed at Tesco and 100 Tesco club card points.
Cash back
I always thought there was never such a thing as free money... But there is!!! and you can find it right here :)
Top Cash Back (personal referal link)
- Best for bigger cash back amounts
- Mobile App which allows you to get in store Cash back
- Free Cash back (yes really!! i got £15.15 for signing up to a months free trial at love film all i had to do was cancel within the 1st month)
- You can save up your cash back to pay on a certain date (mines set for my birthday as a prezzie to me from me)
- Cash back from Ebay
- Download a toolbar which reminds you to get your cash back!
- Mobile app for in store cash back
- Pays straight into your bank on a monthly basis
- Free Cash back (i got £1 for signing up to a website)
Treat Street (feel free to contact me so i can refer you via email, you get 250 points for doing so)
- Gives you points on your boots card to spend at Boots
I always compare the 3 sites for the best deal, i recently got £35.50 for taking out a new phone contract which i was going to do anyway :) you can get cashback for almost anything from renewing your car insurance to you weekly online shop!
Reward Schemes
This is basicly free money in my opinion :) you go about your day to day bussiness and get rewarded for it
i have found the following reward schemes
Boots reward card << Earn points to exchange for shopping
Superdrug reward card << Earn points to exchange for shopping
Tesco clubcard << Earn points to exchange for lots of different things!
Nectar card << Earn points to exchange for lots of different things! *link it to your ebay account for online points*
ELC birthday club << get a discount code when your kiddies birthday is coming up :)
Boots parenting club <<bonus points + a free changing bag
Adsa parenting Club << Free pack of Huggies Nappies
Iceland << not sure what the reward is but i use my iceland card when ever i shop there
Co op points card << earn points and recieve money of vouchers
I have to admit i dont use all of the reward schemes i am signed up to but i always make a effort to go to tesco for my petrol to earn points, i also do my shopping there so get points that way, and boots i always use my reward card i have £15 odd on my boots card which ill keep on saving and eventually treat myself ;) and im always useing ebay so my nectar card gets its usage there!
And last but not least...
Surveys
Yes they are apain int he bum, and yes they can be time consuming... but they pay!
I currently use
You Gov << Pays out every £50 you earn... but £50 is a nice bonus in your bank!
My Survey << Payouts start from £3 :)
So this is my little guide on how to a little bit extra in your pocket. I hope you find it Useful And they really do work. Im not being paid to say any of this (unless you count the referral links...) I'm your average stay at home mummy with too much time on my hands and I just generally want to help you earn a bit extra too. In this day and age the little bits count! I will update this post if i find any more ways that actually do work and don't turn out to be scams and if you have any tips i could add on here feel free to let me know
Kim _x
