Giveaways + Contests + Freebies = Where to Start

Update September 10, 2024:
I have been behind on updating my blogs for giveaways but since 2020 when I first put this blog together, I've had some huge wins! In January 2023, I received two $2,000 Visa gift cards (one for me, one for Kevin) and in June 2024, I won my biggest giveaway to date - a check for $12,000! I couldn't believe it! There are several things that I have learned over the past 10-12 years of entering giveaways - 1. Consistency is key - I enter giveaways daily. Who knew that a giveaway that I entered a few months ago could impact me so much today? 2. Slow down - By this, I mean when you enter on Instagram, be sure to not tag and enter too quickly or Instagram will see you as a bot and pause/stop your account (this has happened several times to me with the most I've been banned was one week) 3. Once you get your first win, you won't want to stop! Don't give up, it takes time, and once you get that first win, you will hopefully see that it's worth it! 

Now that I've been entering for so long, I usually only enter giveaways that have higher payouts (typically more than $100, depending on my mood). I may win less often, but the giveaways are higher. I just won $800 worth of items a few days ago in a giveaway (a $450 crockpot, reusable bags, a $250 gift certificate, a backpack, etc) so the payouts for me have been higher. If you are new to giveaways, you may want to enter the smaller ones - $10, $25, just so you can get used to the process and become confident in your wins. YOU CAN DO IT!  

Original blog 2020:      

Would you believe me if I told you that I receive 1,500+ emails PER DAY to my personal email address? Overwhelming is an understatement. Although I really can't complain because the majority of those emails are giveaways, contests, or freebies that I have been entering or following the past 5 years. I have won some awesome stuff over the years - my favorites being a $600 Nordstrom gift card, $100 Gymboree gift card, a hotel in Mexico worth $1,495, a $100 Amazon gift card, concert tickets to see Pitbull, and the best one yet - a meet and greet with Sublime & Rome!

Here is a full list of things I have won the past 5 years:

Giveaways I won 2020

Giveaways I won 2019

Giveaways I won 2018

Giveaways I won 2017

Giveaways I won 2016

Giveaways I won 2015

I have written blog posts before about freebies, giveaways and contests but I wanted this one to be more of a "Where do you start?" when you decide you want to start entering these contests. There are three main ways that I personally enter contests - Facebook, Instagram, and through my email.

Facebook giveaways started years ago when I started following Julie's Freebies and The Freebie Guy. I love these pages because there are constant contests, freebies, and giveaways through these pages. They also provide deals as well. I would recommend starting there - some of the contests that they link to just have you fill out your information or tag a friend. Just follow what the post says. They also share instant win games that you can sign up for and play daily. Once you start entering giveaways and tagging people, you will start to get the hang of how Facebook giveaways work. If you want to use me as a "tagging buddy" on Facebook, here is my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/abbie.guerrero.1

Please only tag me in giveaways and I can do the same. Some pages will require you to "like" their Facebook page in order to be qualified for a giveaway. This will help you see future giveaways from the same company.

Instagram giveaways are a little bit different and usually the giveaways I enter are ones where you have to like 50-60 pages in order to qualify. They are more time consuming but I enjoy them better (until I cap out my Instagram following at 7,500). Below are some Instagram accounts that run giveaways often. And here is my Instagram username if you want to tag me in any Instagram giveaways: https://www.instagram.com/abbiefisher0202/

Here are some accounts to follow on Instagram:
@theappreciationpage
@thegivingcollection
@friends.and.givingback
@glamgiving
@classy_giveaways2
@classy_giveaways
@justpeachy.giveaways
@classychicgifting

Updated 2024:
@goodtimesgiveaways
@kosherloops
@advancegrowthgiveaways
@thehouseofgiveaways
@loops.4u
@epicgift_giveaway
@gotta_have_it_giftaways

Then I started getting giveaway and contest submissions through my email which explains why I get so many emails per day. Below is a list of emails that I subscribe to with updates often of contests. A suggestion I heard was to have a different email address for contests/giveaways but I honestly would rather have everything in one spot so that's my fault in a way that I receive so many emails. I feel like I have a rather quick system though when it comes to knowing what is junk and what is not. Feel free to subscribe to the links below or you can just visit their pages and enter contests that way! Let me know in the comments when you start winning things! Good luck!

Freebies in Your Mail
Granny's Giveaways
Giveaway Promote
Sweepstakes Fanatics
MySavings - There are Settlements on here as well. I have filled out several forms and just waiting on payment. Most do NOT require receipts or proof
SweepGrab
INeverWinAnything
Royal Draw - Just click "Enter Draw" in green, fill out your information, agree to the terms and click "Enter Draw" again to be submitted. I have won a $50 Target gift card on this website before.
SweepGeek
Sweeps Invasion
Julie's Freebies
Nick at SnagFreeSamples.com
SweepOn
GayNYCDad

Updated 2024 (sign up for email lists and receive daily sweeps to your email address):
One Country- Enter for free by clicking "Enter Giveaway" and scrolling to the bottom where it says, "How to Enter" and click on "Free Alternative Method of Entry"
SweepsAdvantage
VastGG
Giveaway Frenzy
James Brooks
SweepstakesBible
Sweeties Secret Sweeps
Sweepstake.com

Also, for the most part, when you win a giveaway, it's more than $600, they will ask you to fill out a tax form. This is the only time I recommend giving out any of your personal information (ie social security number). If it's a legit giveaway, they will not ask you to pay for anything upfront. Do not give out your account information. If you have any questions on whether or not giveaways are legit, comment below.

Things to look for when it comes to the legitimacy of a giveaway:
1. Look at the email address - if it's from an email that has random letters in it or has nothing to do with the company, it may be spam
2. Look at their followers - if it's on social media, go into their profile. If they have zero or a few followers, it's probably spam
3. Google the giveaway - whenever I receive an email saying I won, I google the giveaway to make sure it's legit before I do anything 
4. Don't give out personal information - usually when you win, they require an address and phone number to send and validate the prize. Do not give banking information and do not give your social security number out unless you know it's legit and they are sending you a tax form

5. If it's an email, look at the font - if they have 20 different fonts and images they are using, it may be spam. Usually if you are emailed that you are a winner, they will use one font style

6.  Personalization - this is a big one for me, in the email, if it says "Abbie, you are the winner!" that means most likely I am a real winner. If it says something like, "Your email has been chosen" - most likely that is spam

7. Look for grammatical errors - In emails especially, if a subject line says, "You have won an toolkit" most likely it's spam

8. Always check the rules - Make sure that you qualify either based on the state you live in, your age, and follow all directions 

9. Make sure you entered - the easiest way to know if it's spam or not is to know whether or not you entered it. There is a way to look at your Instagram account and see what you have liked/commented on previously or Google it to make sure it's a giveaway you recognize

Hopefully this helps! If you have any other questions, let me know below!