Making a wish list
Making a wish list of prizes you want to win is an excellent way to focus your comping and put you in a positive mood – and this is a great time to do it, so you’re ready for action in the New Year!
Think about the things that would make your life special next year, and how comping could help you achieve those goals. They don’t need to be huge prizes like a kitchen or a car – small prizes can bring joy to your friends and family, and offer a treat for yourself too. How about adding some everyday essentials – a year’s supply of dishwasher tablets or petrol vouchers would be a brilliant prize. Allow yourself to do a little dreaming while you create your wish list – I love to imagine myself winning those amazing prizes!
Here are a few suggestions for prizes you could add to your wish list:
- Family days out
- Event/show tickets (one of the easiest wish list prizes to win, especially for local events)
- Restaurant vouchers
- Cinema tickets
- Football tickets
- Haircuts/manicures
- Weekend breaks or hotel stays
- Supermarket vouchers
If you have hobbies, incorporate them into your wish list. Make sure you get as specific as you can – when you’re hunting for comps, a search for ‘win London meal’ will give better results than ‘win vouchers’. Read my post on finding low entry competitions for tips on searches.
If you focus on finding and entering competitions to win your wish list prizes, you’ll find the hobby more manageable and enjoyable rather than overwhelming. You can set up Google searches for specific prizes, search for companies on Facebook and Twitter, and research shops, magazines and events that might be giving away those wish list items. Search competition websites like MSE, PrizeFinder and Loquax forums for your wish list prizes too.
There are a few ways you can make your wish list – whatever you do, make sure it’s somewhere you can access easily and regularly. Stick a list on your fridge, write it in the back of your diary – or use an app on your phone! If you’re a visual person, try Pinterest to make your list with photos.
Which format to use?
Checklist
The simplest way to make your wishlist is a written list that you can tick off. Write it in your diary, a pretty notebook, or stick it to your fridge.
Evernote
Personally, I like to use a notes app on my phone for all my lists – Evernote is my favourite, and a great way to keep all your bits of information in one place – all your ‘notes’ are accessible from any device. You can add check boxes to your list so you can tick off the things you win! Lists on your phone or computer are easy to edit – why not add a list of promoters to each prize? In the example below you can see I’ve researched the sponsors for Euro 2016, so I can check their social media, products and websites for competitions in the spring.
I started my Pinterest wish list a few years ago – it’s a great way of quickly seeing everything at a glance! If you win an item, you can either delete it or leave a comment to say you’ve won it. Not used Pinterest before? My guide on how to enter Pinterest competitions will give you tips on getting started.
Follow Di’s board Wishlist on Pinterest.
Mind map
Mind mapping is something I discovered recently, and found it fabulous when planning my SuperLucky Secrets book. It allows you to brainstorm ideas to find your wish list prizes – perfect for compers! I use a free app called SimpleMind+ – you can see my wish list below (still a work in progress!). Yellow words are the types of prizes I’d like, then specific prizes are highlighted pink. Then for each one, I’m adding orange links to relevant promoters and ideas for how to find competitions! It’s easy to quickly add ideas when you think of them by tapping the plus sign on a bubble, and grow the wish list organically. If I win a certain prize, I plan to highlight it green!
I’m still deciding which type of list works best for me, but I enjoy using them all. Pinterest in particular is an easy one to add to as I browse the internet.
I’d love you to get involved and create your own prize wish list. Let me know in the comments what you’ll be adding to it!
I have a wishlist with three items on it – a washing machine, fridge freezer and pet beds, but I don’t know how to find these comps on mse- I’ve given up trying. Some advice would really be appreciated.
Your best bet is to think of the brands who make/sell these items Caroline – and make sure you follow them (and get notifications) on all their social media channels – eg. Hoover, Indesit, Zanussi, Currys, AO.com, Pets at Home, Fetch!
Ive created a wishlist on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/suebarton1/competition-wish-list-for-2018/
I have found also a nice simple mind app for Android : SimpleMind Free – I think is is like the other app for iOS SimpleMind +.
Yes! Same logo as the one I use. It’s a really creative way to play with your wishlist, you can add lots of extra bits easily! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.modelmakertools.simplemindfree&hl=en_GB
I’ve never made a wishlist. I’ve been comping 4 yrs. I’ve made on on a Spreadsheet so I can cross off if I’ve entered for it, and if I am lucky enough to win, My list includes.
A soup maker.
Blender
GHD Curling wand
Paulton Park tickets
Sundown/ Latitude / Whitenoise Festival Tickets
Hopefully this will make me more focused on the things I really want to win in 2018 rather than just going ‘oooh I like that’ to everything on MSE.
I’ve never made a wish list but I know what’s going to start my first: one:
Weekend away (with rail tickets or enough cash for travel costs), Elomi Lingerie, A shower with enclosure, 4G ‘phone, Theatre Tickets, Restaurant Vouchers, Tickets for The Flying Scotsman and Orient Express. Facial and Manicure vouchers. That’s a good top 10 for me to start with, time to start researching and entering.
I’m still trying for my cooker and I will win one. I wanted a fridge freezer this year and I got it, but I really believed I would. I’d love to win a emozioni necklace, a Super Lucky Di book, a stick blender, bike and a four slice toaster. Vouchers are always good. I really only enter competitons to replace the things I need…anything I win over that is a bonus.
I have just started doing mine, but it is just in a note book, would love a cruise, of Holiday, a dyson Fan, actifry and what everyone would love, some cash, also and IPhone 6 It is a start anyway
Wow, I don’t know how you time to fiddle about with all these things! My Wishlist is in my head and I use the time walking my dog to plan and plot what I’m going to do with a) comping, b) my day and c) my life in general! The only problem is, I have a dreadful short-term memory but hey, it’s great when I remember things again, it’s just as exciting as the first time! My wishlist this year is short, overnight trips e.g. New York, music events, theatre, spas and other events I don’t even know about, the last one being the most exciting!
My wishlist is on Pinterest and I have great fun compiling it!
I’ve just started a wish list on pintrest, I already photograph any thing I am lucky enough to win and have a separate folder on my computer for them, I also write everything down in a book which I love to read when i’m having a lean spell. I love your book and website, thank you for all the help and great tips. Prosperous New Year to all x
I like the idea of keeping a note of wins and am going to start doing this tonight, 5 small prizes so far this year which I’d probably forget but will prove its not been such a lean spell, thanks for the idea and good luck
Although I’ve been comping for several years, have never thought of making a wish list before. However, I can see how it would focus the mind and possibly help you to achieve more success with comping.
I already have a spreadsheet where I list my wins, and take photos of the prize when it arrives. Taking your advice, I will use an app on my mini ipad and create a wish list for this year. Although it would be great to win prizes such as the cash and cars offered by the ITV competitions, my list will also include things such as supermarket and national garden centre vouchers, vouchers for local restaurants, and books.
Hope everyone has a great year, wishing everyone good luck.
I have a couple of short breaks on my list (UK based) for us and our best friends, a new PC or laptop, Coldplay tickets for SIL, baby stuff for the new grandson, supermarket vouchers and a Makeover for me! I shall probably use Pinterest – although I do lose track of time when I’m on it – and give Simple Mind a try.
I’ve just got back into Wamo, but I need to read your tutorial again as I have no idea how to make lists and add friends!!
Good luck for 2016 and a Happy New Year!
I badly need to win a laptop this year as mine is falling apart, would also love to win Holidays .
Great article Di. I’ve just downloaded WAMO and will be using it a lot more for.more wins! Top of the wish list would definitely be a high powered food processor (unsure of brand atm) I want to make my own nut butters!!
The very top of my list would be a Macbook and an iphone 6. Except I have no idea where to find legit comps with these. I see a lot of spam while doing google and twitter searches.
A Macbook is a difficult one – I’ve wanted to win one for years but resorted to trading in other prize gadgets (iPad, PC) to get mine! iPhones are more common, consider adding words like ‘photo’, ‘purchase’ or ‘creative’ to your searches to try and cancel out the spam ones!
Fab idea, never used Wamo might give that a go. Really love the idea of making a visual list on pinterest!!!
Trying to save money this year so I would love to win treats, clothes, cinema vouchers, meals, make up. I am going to try my best to win a cottage holiday
Happy New Year!
Well my wish list consists of:
– an Ipad for my husband
-a kindle fire for me!
– love2shop vouchers
– baby bits and bobs as my first is due in 3 weeks!
I also love to win books, body/perfume bits for my family for Christmas. I have already won my mother in law a beautiful necklace for next Christmas. It saves so much money collecting bits and bobs throughout the year for the family!
Rachel xx
Happy New Year Di 🙂 I’ll have to look at wamo – be nice to use it for something other than just the comps! I do a Pinterest list so I’m just tweaking mine a little. Family holiday at the top but mainly things for home, a washing machine (hopeful after getting dishwasher and fridge freezer) actifry (elusive!) and a nice red sofa! For my loved ones still trying for a PS4 for Sean (managed X-Box) and I’d like to make a really good start on next year’s presents for the kids. I also do well for tickets so looking forward to some nice days out to come. All the best for 2016 x
My 2016 wish list is a Pinterest board – https://www.pinterest.com/krusht/2016-wishlist/
I can’t stop adding to it!
Happy New Year Di!
My 2016 wish-list includes the following:
Xbox One
Washing Machine
Theatre Tickets
Trip to Prague
Go Ape vouchers
Perfume
Electric Toothbrush
Good luck Rach!
Fantastic ideas. I used traditional list, both but use mind maps when teaching so will definitely use Simple Minds! Thank you! My wishlist for next year still contains an annual Merlin Pass, a Fridge-freezer and a HP printer preferably with the Ink subscription! Aim high it is all a bonus!
Ink is so expensive isn’t it? I won a printer with a year’s supply, but that’s run out now! Good luck Jo!
Such a great idea, I am definitely going to do to this to focus my comping more.
Let me know how you get on – and good luck winning those prizes Cristin!
I would love to win an iPad Pro and good luck for 2016 everyone!
Best of luck Adeline!
Thanks Di!
Top of my wish list will be a new laptop for next year, also would love to win some shopping vouchers x
Fingers crossed Jackie – a new laptop means faster comping too!!
Thanks, had my old one for 15 years now and slow doesn’t even explain it lol!! Here’s to 2016, good luck with your wish list too x