Competitions

The art of comping

As an avid comper for many years I cannot recommend a hobby more, it's often fun to do and you can win some really great prizes.

It's possible, though not easy, to walk away with the latest gadgets, 5* holidays, luxury cars, £1000s of pounds in cash or smaller items such as DVDs or a bottle of wine – all without spending a penny. 

The reason's simple. Competitions are a cheap way for companies to promote their goods. Giving away a £3,000 holiday in the Maldives is cheaper than buying a big national newspaper or TV ad. Add to that the chance to collect valuable data on potential customers, and it's easy to see why these contests and websites and forums for compers abound. 

What's comping? It's about putting in the hours – systematically entering hundreds of free competitions, rather than doing the odd contest. This way, you're statistically more likely to win big. Depending on your level of effort and luck, you could furnish your house, travel the world and boost your bank balance. 

Often all entering involves is responding to a post on social media, sending a text message, filling in an online form or writing a postcard, sometimes answering a question, composing a slogan or completing a tie-breaker. 

Compers have scooped £100,000s' worth of prizes, from laptops to luxury breaks, iPods to film premiere tickets. Plus your wins are tax-free, so unlike other ways to boost your income, the taxman won't get any of it.

Over the years I have won a luxury break in Paris, £5000, an iPad, a big screen TV and lots of smaller prizes from a dinner service to bed linen, mobile phones, DVDs, CDs, shopping vouchers, theatre and cinema tickets, VIP festival and gig tickets, makeup, UK hotel stays, clothes, toys and even a Blue Peter Badge!