Master Guide to Entering Receipt Contests in Canada
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Disclosure : This page contains affiliate links. I may earn points or a small commission if you use some of the links.
( Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the EXTRA ways to use a contest receipt to EARN online!)
Love contests but a little confused about receipt contests? As an avid lover of receipt contests and consistent winner of receipt contests in the last 17 years, I have compiled everything you need to know about entering receipt contests, winning prizes with them, what to avoid and a couple tips that are priceless when it comes to entering contests that require a receipt.
🛒Make sure to check out my contest shopping list for the current receipt contests you can enter in Canada.
What is a Receipt Contest?
A receipt contest is a contest that asks you to make a purchase and then upload your receipt online. Contests that ask for a receipt for proof of purchase can be for anything from snacks at the grocery store , to larger ticket items like appliances.
What Part of the Receipt is Needed to Enter a Contest?
When you enter a receipt contest you need to make sure it will be readable by the sponsor. Make sure to put your receipt on a flat surface with lots of light in the room. Take a clear picture of the entire receipt. Make sure the store name, the date of purchase, and the products to be entered are clear and easy to read. Once you have your picture, you now should crop it so that only the receipt is seen in the picture. Crop out the flat surface you laid your receipt on.
Can My Receipt be From Any Store?
NO. You must read the rules to see what the sponsor is asking for. Some contests will allow receipts from Dollar stores, online stores and actual stores. Some contests will say the products you need to have on your receipt must be purchased at Scobey's or Walmart to count.
In 2025 more and more contests have stopped accepting Dollar store receipts so reading the rules is a must. In fact read them twice.
How Many Products Have to be on the Receipt?
Each contest will have it's own set of rules and regulations to entering their contest. Some contests may allow numerous products on the receipt and each will be counted. But the majority of contests only give one entry per receipt not the amount of products.
Can I throw the receipt out after I enter it?
NO! I have won prizes in almost 98% of receipt contests I have entered, and the sponsor can ask for your receipt again before honoring your win. Always hold onto the receipt until after the contest ends and for about a month after that. When I won the $10,000 Samsung prize with chocolate bar receipts the sponsor asked me to email them the receipt again when claiming my prize.
Another reason to hold onto receipts is other contests may pop up that your receipt could be entered in to win. I have had some lucky months where one receipt I was able to enter into 3 different contests! I won prizes in 2 out of the 3 contests! You can also use your receipts in bonus ways which I explain at the end of this page.
What is the best time of day to enter a receipt contest?
It depends on the type of contest you are entering with your receipt. If the contest is an instant win contest than you want to pick your time of day more carefully. If it is a draw contest where winners will be picked at the end of the contest time of day does not matter.
⏰Best time to enter instant win contests especially receipt contests!
💡TIP : If a contest is a draw at the end contest I make sure to stagger my receipt entries. I will do a couple entries at the beginning of the contest, a few in the middle and a few more a day or two before the end of the contest.
Things to Watch for in Receipt Contest Rules
1. Watch for entry limits
How many entries in total are you allowed to gain in the contest. If you can get 20 entries that means 20 purchases and receipts to be uploaded.
2. How they are picking winners
Are winners going to be drawn at the end of the contest or weekly? And will your entries roll over if it's a weekly winners draw contest.
If entries DO NOT roll over every week make sure to break down your entries to a few each week of the contest. Entering 20 receipts in week one is a waste of your money and time because they wont count for the next weeks draw.
For contests that do NOT roll over week to week I have had great luck getting all my entries in, in the very first week. Most people don't commit to a contest that strongly to buy 20 chocolate bars in a week, so it can really pay off. It is the strategy I used when I won my massive $10,000 Samsung prize pack.
If entries are drawn from at the very end of the contest stagger them as I mentioned above.
Can I Use an Amazon Canada Receipt to Enter a Contest?
Yes! Almost all receipt contests will allow purchases to be made online and on Amazon. But using an Amazon receipt does take a little knowledge to make sure your receipt is accepted. Make sure to read the rules to see where your purchases have to made to enter.
How to Enter an Amazon Receipt in a Contest
Before considering doing an Amazon purchase for a contest entry, make sure it's allowed. Read the rules a couple times. If you are still unsure you can email the sponsor and ask. Almost all receipt contests will allow it, but there is a trick to getting them to accept your Amazon receipt.
What Part of the Amazon Receipt is Needed
The most important part of using an Amazon receipt to enter a contest, is that they need to know it was delivered. It's easy to place an order and then cancel, and contest sponsors are onto that scam.
Once your parcel has been delivered you are going to go into your Amazon account now and get the proper receipt for the contest.
1) Visit your account and view order details for the order you are going to be using. At the top right you are going to click INVOICE . Screenshot or download your invoice showing the product for the contest. That's not it...one more step.
2) The next step is the need to see it was actually delivered and the order wasn't cancelled. Go to view order details and screenshot the delivered screen.
This is what a full invoice will look like. See below.
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Can I Enter a Receipt Contest FREE?
Yes you sure can! There will always be contests that ask you to buy a product you may never use. When it comes to those types of contests using the no purchase needed entry option is smart.
All contests in Canada legally have to offer a way to enter their contest without the participant having to spend money.
Receipt contests offer mail in entries and essay entries to get your entry in. Make sure to read the rules about their no purchase necessary entry option. Follow their instructions to a T. If you are mailing in entries it's best to get them sent away towards the beginning of the contest so they make it in time to be accepted.
💡Personal TIP : If a contest is asking me to purchase a single chocolate bar to enter and I don't like chocolate, I put it aside as a gift or donation. I have been able to make up some beautiful gift baskets for friends with products I have bought to enter a contest but don't use. I personally like to support a brand running the contest so I always make at least two purchases and the I do the rest of my entries using the no purchase needed entry option.
MOST IMPORTANT RECEIPT CONTEST TIP
When you are buying more than one product for a receipt contest make sure to avoid this issue!
When you are buying more than one product scan them through separately. That way you gain an entry for each receipt. BUT - DO NOT only have that product on each receipt.
For example : You are buying 2 KitKat bars and need 2 different receipts to enter. Don't scan one and pay and then scan the second and pay right away. The issue is the receipts look too similar and many don't get accepted!! Add another small product on one of the receipts so that when the sponsor is looking at the receipt its super clear that each receipt is different.
See the full issue I have run into with receipts looking too similar.
Ways to Earn Money Online To Make Purchase Entry Contests Free
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Receipt contests = money out of pocket for the products you need to enter a certain contest.
Once you have been entering contests for quite a while this gets easier because you will have saved up gift cards, Amazon cash and store gift cards. But when you are just starting out is it possible to buy products without money coming from your own budget?
Ways to Earn Cash For Purchase Needed Contests ( PLUS use your contest receipts AGAIN!)
Easy Ways to Use Your Contest Receipts to Earn Online
Receipts can be used for so many things including the fun contests we enter. You can earn points and other bonuses by using the same receipt you are using to enter a contest. Here are a few ways I personally use my contest receipts for something other then just entering a contest.
This section contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Contest Library.
I use all these programs myself and they work. With a little bit of effort you can make sure all your purchases for contest entering are free.
1. LEO
Leo is a program I have been with for over a decade. You complete surveys and earn money. It doesn't take long to cash out and you choose the rewards you want to cash out. You can also enter the points you earn for doing the survey into all their monthly contests. There are always contests running. Once you cash out you get your reward within 7-10 days. I always choose Amazon.ca gift cards.
2. Swagbucks
You can upload the same receipts you are using for contests to earn right on Swagbucks!
This is a very popular well known way to earn gift cards. Complete surveys, do daily tasks and do random searches to win Swagbucks. Cashouts start as low as 375 SB's which is super easy to get. Just like with LEO I always cash out using Amazon gift cards.
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3. Amazon Shopper Panel
Use the same receipts you are entering contests with to earn Amazon cash!
This is an app that not everyone will be accepted into but its worth trying. You earn Amazon gift cards for uploading receipts. The receipts you need to upload are not Amazon receipts. The receipts must be from other Canadian stores that you shop at. 10 Receipts =$5 Amazon gift card. I have been a member of this app for a while and it's super easy to use. There are also quick surveys from time to time to earn as well.
4. InstaGC
Insta GC is another program I have used for quite a few years. You complete surveys and quick and easy tasks. What I love about this program is you can cash out at just $1. You can choose different rewards such as PayPal, Amazon and a ton more. I like how I can earn by watching videos too.
I use my earnings to buy my receipt contest products! Its a win, win!
5. Prize Rebel
Prize Rebel is another great way to earn gift cards online. It's much like Swagbucks. You complete surveys, do different tasks and even score prizes and free points on their social media pages like Facebook. You can cash out as low as 368 points for a $5 Amazon gift ca
6. Checkout 51
When you are purchasing a product for a receipt contest always check the Checkout 51 app to see if you could earn some cash back on that purchase. This is a very trusted app and it's not that hard at all to earn yourself some cash with your contest receipts.
7. Caddle
Caddle is much like Checkout 51 from #6. Super easy to upload your receipts you have used for your contests and earn cash back. So check the app when entering your receipt contests to see if there is an offer you can earn from.
Bonus TIPS to Entering Receipt Contests
#1 SAVE ONE
When I say save one I mean save one receipt for the very last day to enter the contest. Check the rules for the exact end time and enter right before that.
#2 Read the Rules TWICE
Contests that ask you to make a purchase have some very detailed rules. Read them twice! Make sure you know your entry limit, where you can purchase the product and end dates.
#3 Gain the MAX Entry Limit
If you are really hoping to win a certain prize in a receipt contest aim to get the max amount of entries allowed during the contest.
#4 Not Every Contest is Worth it
In the first few years of my contest hobby I entered every single receipt contest available. I love receipt contests and the prizes are usually pretty cool. But in the last couple years as sponsors are asking for more and more products to be purchased for just one entry I have limited the ones I enter. Only enter the ones you really want to win a prize with. If the prize is worth the purchases you will be making to enter then it's worth it. I won a $10,000 prize with the purchase of (2) $0.87 Hershey bars. Contests like that are always worth entering.
#5 Use Your REAL Phone Number
Often when entering contests people like to put fake phone numbers in fear of spam calls. Receipt contests are generally run by large brands who are not going to be spam calling you. BUT they will be calling you if you win a large prize or a cash prize. If your number is fake and they can't reach you, you may lose out on your prize.
#6 Screenshots
Some receipt contests are instant win contests. I always suggest that people take a screenshot of your winner pop-up in case you run into issues claiming your prize. Read also : When you win an instant prize do this!