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Note from the Editor:
This article was kindly written for the SDC by member @Deejay11 . This week, Deb is back with another round of clever savings, tasty meals, and even a frugal-minded win that she scored without leaving bed! From smart surveys and entry form competitions to a cheesy crowd-pleaser from her kitchen, Deb continues to show how small habits can add up to meaningful wins. Don’t miss her practical tips, honest reflections, and recipe ideas below!


Hi again from @Deejay11

Has anyone had a go at entering competitions or surveys? Let me know if you have!

I’ve previously been a fan of IGA competitions, where you buy a product and complete an entry form. I’ve noticed lately that their competitions can still be entered this way, or you can just have your IGA Rewards Card scanned at the checkout during your purchase.

I can’t say (from a winner’s perspective ) I’m a fan of scanning Rewards Cards to win (Woolworths also do this often for competitions, with customers scanning their Everyday Rewards Card). It dramatically increases the number of entries, as people enter without even knowing about the competition or without knowing they have been entered!

It would be great to win in this way, but your chances of winning can be very much reduced (eg think Brand X frozen vegetables, and everyone with a Rewards Card has an entry for every pack of Brand X frozen vegetables they purchased over the competition period).

Over many years, I have never won a Woolworths competition by purchasing a product and scanning my Everyday Rewards Card. It’s very much the ‘luck of the draw’. Of course, you have to be in it to win it, but I wouldn’t personally spend a lot of money on products to enter such competitions.

I recently entered an IGA competition (I don’t have an IGA Rewards Card, so I entered through an entry form). I bought three products on separate receipts at half price for three entries. I’ll be stunned and amazed if I win anything!

I’m following on from my eighth edition (which you can read here):


Competitions:

Try your competition luck:

Enjoy winter 2025

Win one of five macadamia winter gift packs.

Ends 17/08/2025.

The Whisky Widow by Karen Brooks - 9781867227236 - Dymocks

Are you a member of Dymock’s Booklover? If you are, you can enter this competition.
It requires you to Pre-Order The Whisky Widow to go into the draw for a trip to Hobart.

Ends 04/08/2025.

Score a Luxe $340 Festival Banquet for Four at Olé - eat South Bank (Brisbane)

Score a Luxe $340 Festival Banquet for Four at Olé.

Ends 4pm 12/08/2025.
Make sure you read the T&Cs for each competition.


Surveys:

I’m still a fan of PrimeOpinion, which I covered earlier. On most weekends, I can withdraw $20 to put towards my weekly shop.

On Sunday, I withdrew my normal $20. On waking on Monday morning, the first survey I completed (10 minutes) paid nearly $3, then I completed the weekly draw for completing surveys 7 days in a row, and won nearly $4. Then I rolled over and went back to sleep! I’m confident I will be sitting at $20 again by next Sunday.

Cooking:

I included a Bruschetta recipe for a visitor platter in my latest edition. The following recipe (which visitors love) keeps popping up on my Facebook feed, with many variations:

Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry Pinwheels


Ingredients:

• 1 sheet thawed puff pastry
• Thin ham slices to cover pastry
• 1 cup shredded cheese (eg tasty, mozzarella, pizza 3 cheeses)
• Egg wash
• Optional: black pepper, chilli flakes, parsley, Dijon mustard, Everything Bagel Seasoning (bought, or make your own: Everything Bagel Seasoning Recipe | Coles)

Method:

1. Lay puff pastry flat, cover with ham and cheese (and any other optional ingredients).
2. Roll pastry firmly into a sausage, then cut into 1.5cm rounds. Place rounds onto a baking tray, lined with baking paper. Brush with beaten egg.
3. Bake at 190 °C for about 20 minutes.

These are yummy!

From the Editor:
Have you had a lucky win like Deb, or turned a single puff pastry sheet into something extraordinary? We’d love to hear your stories, tips, or tasty creations in the comments below!

Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions. Always seek professional advice that takes into account your personal circumstances before making any financial decisions. We also recommend that you consider the T&Cs of any survey sites or competitions before entering.