The internet is a great place for ‘free to enter competitions’, most ask you to fill in simple questionnaires, costing you nothing but offering great prizes from electrical items to game consoles.

Always read the terms and conditions first: Of course you say to yourself, but believe me most folk don’t. Almost 15% of all entries get chucked out straight away for not being in the right area or country.

If you’re asked a question, then answer it. The person who does the draw will check you’ve put the time in and will bin your entry if you’ve not bothered. I once read that you can get away with just sending in your name, address and telephone number, believe me this is not the case.

Most websites ask for your email address as a contact if you win, make sure you don’t miss out a digit or you will never win that car! Sending your entry in CAPITALS or bold text will not get your entry noticed, in fact in may be redirected into a junk folder and your entry may never be seen again.

Always fill in all the boxes, if they ask for your telephone number, give the right one unless you want someone else to get your prize!

Have you won some cash or maybe a holiday? You must check your inbox as well as spam folders, most competition sites give you a dead line to respond to a win. Imagine opening your mail a week after you should have claimed a GHD gift set.

Never, ever, pay to have a prize sent to you; this is 99% likely to be a con. Look out for fake post cards stating you’ve won a prize but they were unable to deliver your prize. They provide a number for you to ring, which is usually a premium rate number and the prize is worthless. I give you these tips because if you do a lot of competitions you may jump in without thinking.

Remember, some one has to win and it could be you.

Good luck