Budget Conscious

When I was preparing for the arrival of my first child, I quickly came to realise it was a very expen-sive business. I needed to purchase so many things from nursery furniture to clothes and linen. Most brand name items were way out of my budget, so I started entering competitions online to see if I could win some of the things I couldn't afford.

Where To Start

I started with looking at my favourite blogs and entering their regular sponsored giveaways to win free stuff. Most blogs regularly feature sponsored posts with great prizes and they are usually sim-ple to enter. The first prize I ever won was a gorgeous handmade baby outfit. I simply had to write 25 words about my favourite childhood memory. It was so easy and I was hooked.

Winning

I began to enter every competition I came across. Some involved taking a quick survey or signing up to an email list and others needed a bit more creativity. While I didn't win a car or win a holiday, I did win lots of little things to make life with a new baby easier. This included a month's supply of nappies, some beautiful prints for the wall and some fun baby toys.

Other Prizes

Since bub has arrived and I've been on maternity leave, I have been trying to find a way to win free money. I have found some companies which pay you to complete online surveys. I signed up to one and I try to do some when bub is having a nap. A couple of dollars here and there adds up quite quickly and I now have over $100 available to convert into gift vouchers of my choice.