By: Rita Cunha| October 26th, 2020

You might have entered a giveaway or two in the past. But did you know some people win money through contests and sweepstakes online? Some winners have even been able to pay off credit card debt and student loans with these prizes.

Usually, we’re wary of telling you to get free cash online, but this is real! If you invest enough time and effort, you could also make money from the comforts of your home. Like with slot machines, it’s all about good luck—but with these contests, all you stand to lose is time. Why not give it a shot?

First Things First: Decide on a Strategy

The first step to our “how to win money from contests” guide is coming up with a clear, effective strategy. It will give you the best chances of winning big time.

Committing Precious Time

How many hours are you willing to spend trying to win real money through contests? Do you want to turn this hobby into a full-time job?

How much time you spend a day on this is up to you. Sweepstakes can be time-consuming, but the more hours you put in, the greater your chances of winning.

Choosing the Right Contests

You should also decide right off the bat what kind of sweepstakes you want to enter. What type of instant win prizes are you after?

Cash Prizes

If you want to win real money, hard cash contests are the best for you. If you win cash sweepstakes you could get a good payout in your bank account in little time.

Non-Monetary Prizes

An alternative to cash sweepstakes is entering a giveaway contest. You’ll get a prize, which you can then keep or sell for extra cash. You could also get a Walmart, Target, or Amazon gift card to spend on something you need.

How Much Effort Do You Want to Put In?

Not all contests are easy to enter. Some ask you to write down your name and email address; while others ask that you submit a drawing, picture, or video. The greater the commitment, the better chances you stand—but the more time you waste, too. What type of tasks would you be willing to do to enter a contest?

The 7 Best Ways to Win Money Through Contests

Unfortunately, there are a lot of fake contests out there. They’ll make you enter your personal information and then not give away a prize at all. Luckily, we’ve compiled this list of legit contests and sweepstakes. Some pay real money, while others give you prizes that you can then sell for cash. They’re worth checking out!

1. Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes

PCH is well-known for hosting hundreds of sweepstakes every month. They have it all, from giving away a $1.250.000 home to raffling $10.000 to help you pay off your debt. If you are based in the United States, you have to give these sweepstakes a try.

2. Swagbucks “Swagstakes”

Swagbucks also gives you many, many chances of winning prizes. Through the Swagstakes competition, you can exchange virtual points you make through the platform for Visa gift cards, Amazon vouchers, laptops, and a lot more. Getting started takes no time at all—and you can even make money on Swagbucks just by watching videos and answering surveys.

3. Supermarket Magazines

Next time you go to the supermarket, keep an eye out for the magazines they sell. Inside, you may find dozens of vouchers for prizes from different brands.

4. Sweepstake and Giveaway Facebook Groups

Join a sweepstake or giveaway group on Facebook to stay in the loop of all the contests going on. Who would have guessed that being on social media could make money?

5. Package Contests

You may have your ticket to riches in your home already. Look at food packages to see what contests brands are hosting. Usually, the steps needed to sign up are incredibly easy and the payout can be amazing!

6. HGTV Sweepstakes

The beloved HGTV network hosts dozens of easy-to-enter sweepstakes regularly. Check out their website for a chance to win prizes as incredible as $10.000 cash.

7. Twitter Philanthropy

If Facebook groups don’t work out for you, turn to Twitter. On this social media platform, you’ll find quite a few philanthropists giving away real cash to their followers. Businessman Bill Pulte and YouTube star Mr. Beast are two of the good Samaritans to look out for.

Final Tips: Get Serious and Get Organized!

Lastly, let’s quickly go over how you can increase your chances of making a lot of money online. If you play your cards right, gain the know-how, and invest enough time, you could earn a passive income from this side hustle!

  1. Create a spreadsheet to keep track of all the giveaways you’ve entered.
  2. Check your email inboxes (including spam!) every day to see if you’ve won a sweepstake.
  3. Join several sweepstakes and giveaway social media groups to catch the freshest opportunities.
  4. Big-time instant winners create extra email accounts to enter the same giveaway multiple times. Follow their lead for better odds of winning.
  5. Always check the sweepstake rules to make sure you won’t be disqualified!
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