Mr. Sweepy's Forums

When I was a teenager my parents and I sat around filling out 3X5 cards and envelopes nightly. We won many things, nothing to major. A gokart once. To me at the time that was better than a car.

 Recently in my family we have taken up the modern form of contest/sweep entry, sparing a fair few trees I would assume. Now I digress....

Most contests say:

winner will receive a trip for winner and three (3) guests to

In my family we have 4 kids.

Exactly.

An 11 year old, two 9 year olds and luckily the youngest is currently under 2. Most places/airlines wouldn't count him really. Yippeee!  Our only real hope of vacationining is to win the GP of some sweeps to Disneyland or something (that or saving $25/week for then next 2 years). Sure Momma and I wouldn't mind winning a cruise for which we'll leave the kids at home, but what happens when we win that 'family trip' to the worlds only castle made of cheese located in Wisconsin?  

 (Ok, I made that up)

Now without further delay on to the question!

All of the sweeps say:

No substitutions permitted except at the sole discretion of Sponsor, in which case a prize of greater or equal value will be awarded.

I understand if I win a prize for 4 to somewhere I'm not getting them to throw in for more kids. Lets just say that we won a trip to Disneyland (for 4). How do we make it work for our favor?  (Assume we can afford to pay for 2 kids without question)

Am I counting my chickens before they hatch? Who knows, but I do know no matter how many hatch I need to buy more chicken.

I can just hope to win a cash prize and pay for all of this from that too. Worked out the cost of a trip to Disneyland tonight at just under $3000 for 5 days in park, 6 nights in a family suite, and air fare.

We enter about 100 sweeps daily (she enters and I enter so X2) not counting the weekly, monthly and one timers. Something good will come along.

 I have reciently won 2 trips. One of which was a 3 day / 2 night airfare trip. The person with whom I delt with (at the sponsors business-the corporate travel person) had no problem with me turning the trip into a 7 night stay. The other trip the contest coordinator  was also flexable. I believe they will work with you if at all possible.

I do think you might be counting your chickens too early.  Most trips are for two people, so even thinking you will win one for four is beating the odds. Not that I want to discourage the daydream!  Of course you will win something terrific eventually, but who knows what it will be.

This is just my perspective: In about a decade of haphazard sweeping, I've won one trip.  Sure, halogen won 28, but that was freakishly impressive. 

I do think that you would be allowed to add other people at your own expense.

 i have won two trips - one for only me, and the other for 2 people.  both sponsors were very nice and said they would work with me if I wanted to change anything.  I didn't, but it was nice to know that they were amicable to it.