Win $1,000 for bills, $2,000 of Gear, or a Book (Yes, Last One’s From Us)

We wouldn’t advise counting on contests for income, but the way things are still going in the employment market, you might be more likely to benefit from a sweepstakes than a jobs site.

Has the downturn has turned you into a “Digital Nomad”? Nomadesk is giving away $2,000 worth of gear, including a Dell notebook and a Blackberry Bold…

Contest: The Recession Will End… When YOU Say So

For this week’s feature, it’s your call when the recession will end. For about four months, we’ve given you our take on the recession’s end with a focus ranging from economist forecasts, impact to on your lives like health insurance and college tuition, and recession trends like staycations and the coupon craze.

After taking you through our thoughts on the recession’s end from many angles, we’re interested to know how you measure the recession’s end in your own life. At a macro level, we’ve been inundated with headlines of housing, unemployment, and other economic analysis and forecasts. In our everyday lives, we’ve felt recession pressures in unique ways and broken down our material needs into necessities, small splurges and sizable sacrifices…

The Grand Prize? Free Rent

What’s one way to grab the attention of consumers in an overly-crowded market of coupons, deals, and special discounts? Offer up a free place to live.

Shopping sprees and around-the-world trips have apparently become passé when it comes to company-sponsored contests, since an increasing number of businesses are dangling free rent as the grand prize in seemingly-unrelated marketing efforts meant to attract new customers and draw attention to their products.

From discount clothing chains to beverage companies, there doesn’t need to be any connection to the housing market for free—or discounted—rent to be offered as a prize. Need proof, or just a place to stay? We’ve gathered up a handful of contests to prove our point…

Win $500 for a Recession Photo or $2,000 for Small Business Video

Still jobless? (Or just want more cash?) You still have 10 days to enter the Recession Expression photo competition being held by Brickfish, a social marketing firm. Upload a picture that reflects how the recession has hit your community, and you could win the $500 grand prize, or other $250 and $100 awards…