Best competition and freebie websites to help you make extra cash for Christmas

Feeling lucky? MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry explores the best freebie and contest sites and how to avoid scams

Contests might seem like a far away dream to win big prizes – but everyone else thinks that, too.

And that means fewer people enter than you might imagine! The big prizes like cars or even houses can be life-changing, either if you use the prize or sell it for cash. However, the smaller everyday prize draws can be where your life improves on the daily – especially if you combine with freebie websites, too.

Set up a specific email address

Before you get started signing up to everything, create a specific email address. This will help you not get inundated in your inbox with repetitive emails or junk mail. While the websites we’re going to suggest are legitimate, others can be less so which is why it’s important to protect your contact information.

If you’re serious about leading a ‘comping life’, a Pay As You Go SIM card can give you even more control over receiving marketing or announcement texts – use as a dual SIM in your phone to separate your competition entries from your day-to-day life.

How to spot a scam

It can be really hard to spot scams, especially with sophisticated technology these days. A legitimate website will have contact and company information that you can cross reference against Companies House, for starters. Check where the contest is based. For example, you might get invites to play the US Lottery, but international winners are ineligible so you’re just throwing money away by entering.

Try to stick to free prize draws where possible, too. Anything that requires you to pay for a raffle ticket or draw entry should be investigated further before you enter. There are some, like Omaze which gives away entire houses, which are legitimate. But look for the winners, the company history, and Google search the company to check for negative reviews first.

Have a separate payment card

If you do want to enter paid draws, one way to protect yourself from scams is to use a specific card to enter. A separate current account with a small amount of money in it, for example, will limit what a fraudster could take from you if they get hold of your details. Even better, use a prepaid Mastercard or Visa card that isn’t linked to your bank account.

Why contests can change your lifestyle

Now we’ve covered the important info, let’s look at why you might want to start comping as a regular habit. Prize draws vary wildly, from winning books to cars, hampers to holidays. You will get to experience things you might not have considered for yourself before, broadening your horizons and learning new things. And of course, for physical prizes, you can always sell it online to make cash if it’s not something you’ll use.

How freebie sites improve your life

Everyone loves free stuff! Freebie sites might offer discount codes or unique sales information, but you will also commonly be able to claim free stuff. This might be because a company is in search of product testers, or to promote a new product launch, or simply as an ongoing marketing tactic. Free samples are the most common item you’ll see on a freebie site. Make the most of them! You might find a new product that you love, or save money on something you always buy and need like toiletries or snack foods.

The best contest and freebie sites

Now you know the how and the why, let’s look at the who. Who runs the best freebie and contest sites? The MoneyMagpie team signed up to a whole bunch of sites and these were the best in terms of minimal or no junk emails, prize or freebie quality, and frequency of opportunities to win.

My Happy Street is a free site that has lots of different opportunities, from cashback to prize draws. But the best one is the original: sign up with your postcode and street name, and you could win a share of the daily draw. Each day, a free random draw happens which names a street – if it’s your street, you can claim the prize! The website is funded by adverts, which is why they can afford to offer cash prizes for free.

The same principle as My Happy Street, Pick My Postcode is a free website that draws a postcode. If you live in that postcode, you can claim your share of the prize pot! The daily Stackpot draws are also free and could nab you a quick £10.

From free Coca-Cola to perfume to paint, Latest Free Stuff rounds up the discounts and deals from across the web for you to claim. You’ll need to enter details for each item, as the site aggregates information – which means if you want the free cola, a click will take you to that site.

In a similar vein, All Free Stuff rounds up online offers and freebie deals. It also has a daily ten newsletter, which will keep you up to date with the latest deals before they run out, as many of these freebie offers have limited stock.

• Good Housekeeping Competitions

A household name with a standard to uphold, Good Housekeeping Competitions has a wide number of free prize draws to enter. The page is constantly updated, so it’s worth bookmarking and checking back regularly. From a BBC Maestro subscription to holiday vouchers to household gadgets, there’s always something interesting to try and win.

And finally…

Of course, there is also the MoneyMagpie deals and freebies page, with free contests as well as giveaways and discounts on retail, lifestyle, and even travel. From time to time, there is a special 30-day event with even more free things to claim and enter – and it’s always free.

Some of the brands and websites we mention may be, or may have been, a partner of MoneyMagpie.com. However, we only ever mention brands we believe in and trust, so it never influences who we prioritise and link to.