Is entering contests a waste of time?

I am a former sweepstaker and I won't write off entering contest as a complete waste of time--I mean given you still have a life you live. I did it for 5 months and I entered contest both online and offline--mail being my favorite and more effective. Your right, I've never won anything fabulous--just a 25 dollar gift certificate from Family Dollar and another one from somewhere I do not even remember. Anyways, I just liked doing it because the excitement of it and the smaller ones you do have good chances of winning but still you do want to enter the big ones, its your call. I some free little handouts from an author once. I liked entering Fine Living TV contests and Home Living contest where they redo your house or something, that would be a win worth the time and hassle still your chances get lower. Now you have the issue with stamps and I would buy a whole role for 36$ but if your an avid sweepstaker it can go fast so you have to be very strategical--not like I was, just entering whatever--you have to consider how many people are entering. Your best chance of winning contest is really at your local level, putting your name in the box things you see in stores and make sure you fold it into a triangle or some shape in case its just one pickers. I subscribed to a weekly newsletter (30$ for 6 months, i think) that had more than enough contest to enter and I think it was much easier than scouting them all your own because with a newsletter you can easily track them. I know a lot of people are eliminated just from disqualifications from not using the specified ink color or the right envelopes--and a lot of the times I just made guesses but you could increase your chances by learning up on more experienced sweepstakers--theirs people who create their own envelopes to make them stick out, my god! I just really enjoyed it but right now I just have no money for extras (stamps, being one) like that so I just enter online.

I've entered contest before, but have yet to win anything. I wont say it's a waste of time because I'd spend that little time wasting it on something else. I do wonder sometimes if that prize mobile is for real. I have entered that contest every year. You never know when lady luck will come your way.

I don't think so. You aren't going to win every contest that you enter - but if you do it enough you will win something. I've won a bunch of little contests... things for make up or bath stuff or movies. Sometimes I don't even know I won until the box arrives in the mail.

Probably, i don't know as i don't enter them because i think it would be a waste of my time. I can't say i've never won anything from them because althout i never have to be honest i've never bothered to enter in the first place!

In my own opinion princessdian... I find contests really a big waste of time... Yeah, I knew it is one way to showcase our talents and stuffs but think about what you can do and achieve on the time you're not on a competition? you can really experience a lot of things pertaining to your growth as a person... It is just okay to join contests but we should limit it too...not all contests are good for us...

Contests, Lotteries, Raffles, they are all designed to bring out the competitor in us. While there is even a slight chance of winning, we will strive to do so. Are they a waste of time? OF COURSE!! BUT; in my wallet I have lottery tickets and recently bought raffle tickets for my soccer club...oh!! and I might SMS this contest in my magazine....just in case!!

Well, things can change quickly. Yesterday I got a call telling me I had won a camera in a football competition on an internet site. When Sony gets it to me[in 4-6 weeks] i'll say YES, you can win, lol.