Dear LPG,

I read one of your articles about how much you must pay to win all those competitions that are now part of magazine television programs, or the online competition websites (►►►), and it got me thinking.

I have entered the odd one because even if you are like me, the sort of person who keeps the television on in the background during the day while using it as a clock or a bit of company, the sight of a prize that includes a brand-new car and lots of money somehow become words and pictures that you might stop and pay attention to.  When you see the prizes, even those of us who would describe themselves as having little or no imagination, can’t help but envisage how much better life would be if they could spend a week cruising the Caribbean, or see themselves driving a state of the art car for a while; and that is before you consider the cash prizes.

The competitions seem to be flung in our direction from everywhere these days and the prizes look pretty good too but, just like CP I suppose they bring out the cynical side of me because I am that person who questions just how many of the prizes offered in them actually get won.

I wanted to know more about what is in it for the people that offer the competitions and give-away prizes in the first place, but I did not get very far with the answer to that.  Apparently there are tax and other advantages for those who offer the prizes and the whole thing is governed by the national gambling laws; so there are rules.

While I was looking at that I found some information about the growing number of people who now see entering these competitions as a semi-serious business opportunity.  Some are having quite a bit of success when it comes to winning and it occurs to me that, as long as you don’t spend too much money on entering, it could be thought of as a financial side-line worth considering for us pensioners.  After all, one of the many negative aspects of being retired can be that feeling that every day is exactly the same and there is little to look forward to, while there is an element of anticipation which might make life more interesting for those who need something to focus on.  Being realistic, it could be seen as a way of earning a bit of extra income, with holidays and new cars being sellable if the prizes aren’t exactly to your taste. 

Finding something worth entering regularly might be one good way of keeping those brain cells working and, as long as you don’t spend too much money on entering or let it become an obsession.  It may well be an interesting diversion.

SD, Dartford.

SD left us some online information…

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.and a little advice for those who want to have a go…

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