Sweepstakes!

What better way to take a vacation than for FREE?

Or, close to it, anyway.

Sweepstakes are a great way to get the opportunity to travel. Many people may think their chances of winning are low (and they are), but there are so many travel sweeps available and your odds improve for each that you enter.

Each day, take a half hour out to enter sweepstakes. You'd be surprised how much you can win just by setting aside some time each day to enter. (Remember: always make a new e-mail account for these. Don't use your personal e-mail or it may be overwhelmed by spam.)

You can find MUCH more information on sweepstakes, odds, prizes etc. at:

http://www.online-sweepstakes.com/
http://www.sweepstakestoday.com/

These websites provide lists of all available sweepstakes and allow you to make a "Lucky list", a convenient list of the sweeps you're interested in so you can enter them daily. The forums are also very helpful and should answer your questions.

Keep in mind that when you win a vacation, it's not totally free in that come tax time, you will have to report it. However, many travel packages include spending money ($500-$2,000 usually), and this money can help offset taxes.

If the trip doesn't include spending money, then make sure you can afford around 25% tax costs on the trip.

But, by entering a few sweeps daily, your odds are better than you think! Hopefully I'll have some winning news to post about soon.

On a personal note, I am going to Ireland for the 2nd time next month. I will be sure to post lots of photos.

travel on!
~Melissa