1. Home
  2. Hobbies & Games
  3. Contests & Sweepstakes
Sandra Grauschopf

Sandra's Contests Blog

By Sandra Grauschopf, About.com Guide to Contests

How Do You Feel about Giving Prizes as Presents?

Monday November 12, 2007
As the holidays approach, I'm starting to think about which of my prizes would make great Christmas presents (or Hanukkah, or whatever holiday my friends celebrate) for my friends and family. This is something that I do all year round, putting my wins aside when I think that someone I know will love them (when I can bear to part with them myself!).

Around October and November, I start focusing on prizes that I think people will really love - expensive perfumes, computer and video games, gift cards, and of course, cash to buy the stuff that I haven't won by the time the holidays roll around.

I've created a series of articles about how you can hone your sweepstakes entries to win prizes for presents, and with inspiration for great gifts that you could win.

Now, I'd like to hear your opinions as well. Are you planning to give away any sweepstakes prizes as presents? Do you have any other tips or hints for how to do it? Vote in my poll, and leave your tips in the comments!

Comments

November 10, 2008 at 11:18 am
(1) Carolyn Wilman says:

I used a win as a gift for my sister one Christmas. She didn’t like it. Well, it was only OK. Anyway, she took it back to the store and exchanged it for something else. From then on I only buy gifts and all my wins are shared right there and then.

November 10, 2008 at 12:35 pm
(2) Frankie says:

I think gifting wins is great when you are sure it is something a person will like. I enter some sweeps in hopes of winning something for the grandchildren or children. Small things I would give right away, but something really special I would save! We are a frugal family where gifts are concerned, and our daughters would be thrilled for us to give them a nice gift we did not have to buy!

November 10, 2008 at 12:53 pm
(3) Contests says:

Oh, Carolyn, what a shame! I can see how that might turn you off from giving prizes as presents again.

November 10, 2008 at 1:30 pm
(4) Contests says:

That’s how I feel, Frankie. I’ve won prizes that are worth a whole lot more than I could afford to give away. I’ve won furniture, expensive perfume, and electronics that family members have enjoyed. I wouldn’t give it away just because it’s free, but if it’s something someone would really like, yippee!

Leave a Comment

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic. Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title="">, <b>, <i>, <strike>

Explore Contests & Sweepstakes

About.com Special Features

Cold Weather Photography Tips

Solutions to keep your equipment (and you!) intact during winter shooting. More >

Scrapbook Technique Gallery

Use these ideas to inspire your own uniquely beautiful pages. More >

  1. Home
  2. Hobbies & Games
  3. Contests & Sweepstakes

©2010 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.