Sweepstakes & Freebies: 2 Great Ways to Get Free Stuff

Everything You Need to Know to Get Started with These Great Hobbies

Get Free Stuff with Sweepstakes and Freebies
Sweepstakes and Freebies: 2 Great Ways to Get Free Stuff. Image (c) Doug Barry / E+ / Getty Images

Do you love getting stuff for free? Sweepstakes and freebies are two ways to do it. Find out what the differences are, and how you can get started with each of these fun hobbies.

How Sweepstakes and Freebies Differ:

Sweepstakes and freebies are two different methods that advertisers use to spread the word about their products and services.

Sweepstakes are used to generate excitement and reinforce branding — in other words, to put the company's names on the lips of as many people as possible. The prizes in sweepstakes may or may not have anything to do with the sponsor's company.

For example, a cookie company may give away a cash prize. A car manufacturer might give away one of their cars. Companies usually try to give away exciting prizes that appeal to their target audience.

With sweepstakes, companies usually offer bigger prizes, but entrants only have a chance to win them. 

Freebies, on the other hand, are oftentimes samples of a company's new or popular products. The hope is that once you try a product sample, you'll love it so much that you'll continue buying it.

The prizes are usually smaller, but if you are among the first however-many people the sponsor designates, you will receive the sample.

Freebies also include promotional items that have the company's name, logo, phone number, or website branded on them. By seeing that information over and over again, people are more likely to use the company.

Another difference between freebies and sweepstakes is the likelihood of actually receiving a product. By sending away for freebies, you're guaranteed to get something, as long as the supply of free items has not run out.

With sweepstakes, your chances of winning are lower — but sweepstakes oftentimes offer much larger prizes. Freebies are usually smaller prizes and samples, but you'll receive many more of them.

Adding freebies to your sweepstakes mix can be a fun way to get free stuff and keep yourself motivated.

Freebies Sound Like Fun! Where Can I Find Them?

There are many sites that aggregate freebie offers for you. For example, The Balance Everyday has a wealth of articles about freebies.

If you're new to freebies, here are some articles to help you get started:

If you'd like more options, HuffPost has also put together a list of 31 places to score freebies.

What About Getting Started with Sweepstakes?

If you'd like to maximize your chances of getting free stuff, enter sweepstakes, too. If you're just getting started with sweepstakes, these articles can help you out:

Maximize Your Free Stuff by Entering Both Sweepstakes and Freebies

Entering sweepstakes and freebies is a fun way to try out new products and have incredible experiences, all without paying a dime!

Freebies can also be a great way to keep your enthusiasm up when it's been a long time between wins, ​since fun surprises will appear at your door on a regular basis.

Since neither one costs you any more than a bit of spare time, get started today and watch your free stuff roll in.