Comping is a UK term used to describe the hobby of entering competitions on a regular basis, often in large numbers, in the hopes of winning prizes.
To do it, you’ll need to be prepared to put in the hours, but you could end up being the lucky winner of a new car, a luxury holiday or a wad of tax-free cash transferred to your bank account.
Things to be aware of
If you enjoy entering competitions, or it’s something you want to do more often, it’s important to be aware of a few things first, to make sure you stay safe and to manage your expectations.
You might not win. Even if you enter hundreds of competitions, there’s no guarantee you’ll actually win anything. Of course, the more you enter, the greater the chances of success – but you might not win anything big.
You need to be invested. To do comping seriously, you need to be prepared to spend a lot of time online, filling in forms, answering questions or sending text messages/making phone calls.
Watch out for scams. Never share personal or financial information and always check the company’s website for verification, or check if the company is listed on Companies House.
Never pay to claim a prize. If you’re being asked to pay a fee to claim your prize, avoid it! Also be careful if you’re paying to enter the competition as this can make it a very expensive hobby.
Read the terms and conditions. Make sure you understand exactly what’s involved, including the closing date, how winners are chosen and whether there are any entry limits.
Use a separate email address. This can make it easier to manage your entries and keep your main email address free from spam. It also makes it easier to spot if you’ve won.
Be wary around social media competitions. These aren’t always legit so be cautious before clicking on links. Look out for fake accounts impersonating brands – check for verified blue ticks or official pages.
Stay organised. It’s sensible to keep track of all your competition entries in a spreadsheet or notebook so that you know when the winners will be announced and avoid duplicate entries.
Get free antivirus software. This helps protect your device and personal information from scams, phishing attempts and malicious links.
Your tips to help boost your chances of winning
If you’re ready to start comping, follow these top tips to increase your chances of winning:
Look for low-entry competitions. If fewer people are entering, you’ve got a greater chance of winning. Look for competitions that require a little more effort, such as sending in a photo or a slogan, as these tend to be less popular.
Focus on the ones you want to win. There’s no point entering a competition to win a load of gardening tools if you hate gardening, so focus your energy on the competitions with the prizes you actually want.
Enter on less popular platforms. Consider smaller blogs or local businesses as these are likely to receive fewer entries.
Use auto-fill tools. Most web browsers have an option that remembers your details and fills them in automatically the next time you enter a competition (just avoid doing this on shared computers). If you don’t want to do this, you can simply keep your details saved somewhere and copy and paste them each time.
Quick email entries. If you’re entering by email, you can also draft and save a template email with the relevant details to speed up the entry process.
Use your skills. Some competitions involve writing a short story or slogan, or solving a riddle, for example. Keep a look out for competitions that match your skills and experience as you’ll have a better chance of winning.
Use listing websites. Check out sites such as The Prize Finder that lists the UK’s biggest free competitions and gives you links to enter. This can save you heaps of time.
Enter multiple times. If the competition permits it, enter more than once.
Follow the rules. At the same time, double check the rules to make sure you don’t end up with a disqualified entry.
Follow the instructions. Make sure you’ve done everything you were supposed to do as part of your entry – have you tagged a friend, included a photo, answered a question?
Keep track. You could set up a spreadsheet listing all the competitions you want to enter, their prize and closing date so you know which ones to enter first. Also note when you’ve entered them.
Remember to reply. If you’re lucky enough to win, you might need to reply to the winning email within a certain period of time or the prize will be withdrawn. Don’t miss your opportunity!
Know where to look. You’ll find competitions on websites, magazines, newspapers, supermarkets, TV, radio or by signing up to retailers’ newsletters. So keep your eyes peeled.
Bottom line
Entering competitions can be a fun and rewarding hobby, but the key to winning lies in being consistent, smart with your entries, and cautious of scams. Focus on lower-entry or skill-based comps, follow the rules carefully, and don’t give up if you don’t win straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Potentially. If you’re prepared to put in the time and think carefully about which competitions you want to win, you could win prizes fairly often. Just be aware that you might end up with a new toaster, not a new car.
Yes, it’s best to set up a separate email address to manage entries and keep your personal inbox clutter-free. You can also create folders to track what you’ve entered and when the winners will be announced.
Competition prizes can vary from kitchen gadgets and garden equipment to luxury yachts and holidays, or even cold hard cash. Always look at the prizes carefully before deciding whether the competition is worth entering.
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Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time.
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