Competition Queen Di Coke’s Best Money Saving Tips For the New Year

• Social media competitions are an easy way to get into comping
• “Comping is a hobby that can make dreams come true”
• Focus on prizes you want to win most
• Cash back apps, deal sites, and voucher codes also help to save

Di Coke has been entering competitions, or comping, for twenty years, and has won over £300,000 worth of prizes in this time.

She now runs the award winning blog Super Lucky Me, which shares advice on comping for beginners.

Di is always on the lookout for competitions, she said, “I enter about 20-30 competitions every day.

“Most of these will be very quick to enter- a tweet, an instant win entry, or a Facebook comment- and I can do them on the school run or if I have a quick look at my phone!

“I aim to enter at least five creative, purchase-necessary, or local comps each day too- these are the type of competitions I know there’s a better chance of winning as the entry numbers will be lower.”

Most competitions are very easy to enter now.

With the growth of social media, anyone can find competitions online and won’t have to do much to enter them, although this means many more people enter, and your chance of winning is much slimmer.

Comping hasn’t always been this easy to do though.

Di said, “I started comping twenty years ago, when we were all sending off postcard entries and entry forms!

“These days most comps are online- you can find them using a Google search, or on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook- as well as sites like Latest Deals.

“And you can still spot plenty on the supermarket shelves, in magazines, and newspapers, or by listening to the radio.

“Less people know about these competitions so they are very easy to win.”

Great prizes can be one in these competitions, with a huge range from gym wear and tattoos, to high prices products like a holiday.

One follower of Di's blog managed to win a holiday to Thailand from Booking, the online reservation company.

Di told us what the best prize she’s ever won was.

“My best prize was a VW Beetle in a Zanussi tiebreaker competition- it was the only car I’d ever wanted to drive, so it was a real dream prize.

“It’s great to win money-can’t-buy prices too.

“My family are massive football fans- I’ve won VIP Champions League Final tickets for my parents; presented the Man of the Match award at the Euro 2016 England v Wales match; my husband got to play football with Robert Pires and Tony Adams in Milan; and this year my son won a mascot experience for Arsenal at the FA Cup Final.

“Comping is a hobby that can make dreams come true.”

Her blog features videos of other prizes she has won, with monthly unboxing videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUtFrqULZ78

Di’s blog also gives some great tips for beginners looking to get into comping, she shared some of her best tips with us.

“First time compers should set up a separate email address (as short as possible) to enter competitions- and always think twice before ticking a box so you don’t allow your data to be passed on to third party companies.

“Social media comps are great because you don’t have to hand over too much information- but make sure you’re regularly checking your message folders and notifications in case you miss a win!

“Decide on the prizes you’d most like to win and focus on finding and winning comps to get those.

“Look out for competitions in your local area on social media, in magazines and on local radio- they are easier to win than national comps.

“Stay positive and make friends in the comping community- they will help you to find more competitions and help maintain your enthusiasm through the dry spells.

Finally, don’t be scared of a creative competition- lots of comps require a photo entry now, so get into the habit of taking photos whenever you can!”

If you don’t want to get involved in comping but want to save in the New Year, Di has some other great money saving tips.

She said, “I’m super frugal, and if I can’t win something then I will do my very best to get it at the cheapest possible price.

“I’ll always check cash back apps, voucher codes, and websites before spending.

“If possible, visit different supermarkets regularly- as well as getting the best price for your groceries, you’ll be accessing the widest range of competitions!

“Saving up competition prizes and vouchers until Christmas can save you a fortune too.”