Subscribe

SmartyPig Social

What We're Twittering

Home    SmartyPig Blog   “Race Out Of Debt” – Win Thousands!

The SmartyPig Blog

September 14, 2010 • Posted by Sarah Foss

“Race Out Of Debt” – Win Thousands!

SmartyPig: Credit Card Contest

Are you one of millions of Americans living with Credit Card Debt? The average American’s credit card debt hit an 8-year low this summer, bringing the national average to $4,951 – down 13% from $5,719 last year. Americans are doing better… But who couldn’t use a big boost to get over the hump?

That’s why we are going to help one lucky contestant “Race Out of Debt” with a cash prize of $4,951 to put toward his or her credit card bills, holiday gifts, a much-needed vacation or whatever they choose! The process is simple, the reward large, and both new and existing customers are eligible. The contest officially begins this morning, September 14, 2010, at 10 AM CT and will remain open until September 27, 2010, at 10 AM CT.

On Monday, September 27, 2010, SmartyPig will randomly choose eight finalists. Each finalist will be assigned to a pig on the SmartyPig Farm. These pigs will then race to determine which lucky contestant wins the grand prize. On Tuesday, September 28, 2010, we will post the video of the SmartyPig race and officially announce the “Race Out of Debt” winner!

How do I enter? It’s easy…

  1. New and existing users must add a NEW goal under the NEW category, “Race Out Of Debt“
  2. Follow the instructions to set up and activate your new SmartyPig goal.
  3. Enter your qualified checking or savings account from your credit union or bank.
  4. Make the initial deposit requirement of $25. Remember this is NOT an entrance fee. You will automatically begin earning 1.75% APY, have access to up to 14% cash back at many retailers, and you always have the option to redeem the $25 + interest earned back to your checking or savings account.
  5. Follow each step closely as failure to complete all steps will disqualify you from the contest.

Full contest rules here:
http://www.smartypig.com/PayOffYourCreditCard_ContestRules.pdf

Official press release can be found here.

Best of luck in all your savings goals!
The SmartyPig Team

  • Natalie

    This is awesome! I just entered; fingers crossed! Thanks for all the neat contests, SmartyPig, it makes this a lot of fun!

  • Phillip

    Show me the money! ;)

  • William

    this is great

  • Bianca

    is this not open to Australian Residents?

     

    Bianca – This contest is just open to U.S. Residents per our official rules document.  Thanks for checking and good luck with your goals!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    sfoss@smartypig.com

  • Rich

    You guys are the best. I can’t believe how some people don’t see how much you care about us, the customers.

  • http://wacolawson.blogspot.com Josh

    Where is this SmartyPig farm? I need to take my family there!

    Hi Josh, One very generous farm in Eastern Iowa is donating their pig racing facilities to us for the day.  Perhaps a full time SmartyPig farm is something we should consider in the future? We Shall see!

    Thanks for your note and best of luck with your goals!

     

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    sfoss@smartypig.com

  • http://www.twitter.com/saireah Sarah

    Entered. Crossing fingers!

  • Andrew

    Er, make a $25 deposit into a goal sounds like an entrance fee to me.

  • Roy

    I’m in! With luck, I’ll be part of a racing pig team!

  • Maria-Teresa

    Entered! Great idea :)

  • http://twitter.com/matzner Ryan

    Someone should really point out the silliness of this contest: If you just put the money you would otherwise put towards your SmartyPig savings directly towards your credit card debt, you’d save a ton of money.

  • AC

    Will I get a confirmation email that I had entered the Race? I just setup a new goal but the messages about the game is still there!

    AC,

    The eight finalists selected to “run” in the pig race will remain a secret until September 28, 2010.  We Will post the race via video blog (here) at 3 PM CST.  The video will include an announcement of the eight finalists and the winning pig as he or she crosses the finish line.  If you have further questions, feel free to contact me.  Thanks and good luck!

     

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • Genevieve

    I just entered…this would be great to win…my new husband and I are digging our way out of some credit card debt. And I love pigs. :-) Thanks SmartyPig!

  • Stephanie

    I love this contest! This is just the kind of thing that I asked for in the comment box of your recent survey. It’s great to see SmartyPig listen to its users. :)

  • Craig

    What is the Video Blog and where can I view it on September 28, 2010 at 3 PM CT.????

     

    Craig,

    The video blog will be posted here on the SmartyPig Blog.  We will also link to the video off Facebook and Twitter.  You won’t be able to miss it, I promise!

     

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • http://www.iheartpgh.com Lindsay

    just entered! cool idea for a contest.

  • http://www.gardenofwords.com Okelle

    Is a category the same as an account? I really wish SmartyPig would get their interface locked down. It could be easier to use.

     

    Okelle,

    The category and the account are two separate entities. If you are a new user, you must first register an account with us.  You will then create a new goal, this is where the category comes in.  If you are an existing user you do not need to create a new account, just a new goal.  If you would like to participate in the contest please choose “Dash Out of Debt” as your new goal.  If you have further questions please contact our customer support at support@smartypig.com.  

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • JD

    Two questions…

    1) Does the $25 have to be “fresh” money transferred directly from a conventional bank? Or can I just transfer from a different savings goal?

    2) Does the $25 have to stay in the goal for the entire duration of the contest? Or can it be withdrawn earlier?

    Thanks

    JD,

    To answer you questions:

    1) The $25 must be deposited from a bank account.  

    2) The $25 Must stay in the goal the duration of the contest. 

    If you have further questions, feel free to contact me.

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • Michele

    Wait a minute. So I already have an account and a goal and you want me to open another one? Then if you go through all that again, and you are one of the 8 pigs chosen you still have to participate? No thanks. My hunch is that you’ll easily make your prize $$$ plus much more by using our 25.00 Fee. Is this correct? I’d love a reply.

    Michele,

    Thanks for your post.  We ask that our current users create a new goal, yes, they do not need to open another account.  In the true spirit of SmartyPig we have chosen to narrow our contest down to eight finalists and award the winner in a fun manner, hence the pig race.  We encourage all of our existing users to participate, but by no means require participating in the contest or the final pig race.  I’m happy to answer any further questions or concerns you might have, please see me contact information below. 

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

    515.221.4261

  • http://myspace.com/eryn-h evanch

    Can’t wait to see the piggies racing. Are they smarter than racing horses?

  • Jason

    wow this is realy really cool. Im about to enter. Smarty Pig Rocks!

  • http://myspace.com/eryn-h evanch

    Besides the curiosity to see piggies racing on track also would like to know the answers to these 2 Questions.

    1) Does the $25 have to be “fresh” money transferred directly from a conventional bank? Or can I just transfer from a different savings goal?

    2) Does the $25 have to stay in the goal for the entire duration of the contest? Or can it be withdrawn earlier?
    Pls let me know, thanks.

    Evanch,

    To answer you questions:

    1) The $25 must be deposited from a bank account.  

    2) The $25 Must stay in the goal the duration of the contest. 

    If you have further questions, feel free to contact me.

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • YMF

    I currently live in Puerto Rico. Is this contest available for residents of PR?

     

    YMF,

    Yes, you are free to enter the contest.  Good Luck!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • Kara

    Yay!

  • Chris

    I made my goal!

  • JD

    Is it ok to select “None” as the funding frequency?

     

    Hi JD, Yes, you may choose “None”. 

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • Brittany

    Crossing my fingers!

  • Beth

    If I make an initial deposit greater then $25, I will still be entered, correct? I was in the process of setting one up with a larger deposit and this “Race out of Debt” is an added bonus.

    I was also reading the above comments, and just found it strange that a few people, don’t want to put $25 into a savings account, as if they are under the impression that this is an entrance fee, to benefit Smarty Pig. My take on this, is SmartyPig is giving incentive, to make a better future for new or current customers, and that $25.00 “entrance” fee is just the start to that. Thank you for the added incentive!

     

    Beth,

    You will be entered into the contest with an initial deposit greater than $25.  Good Luck!

     

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • http://ifartfairydust.blogspot.com/ fairydust

    This finally prompted me to open a SmartyPig acct :) And I’m in the race – go, piggies!

  • http://facebook.com James

    Pigs and money..do they go together? I think so.

  • Jane Doe

    Thanks for the contest, Smarty Pig!

    For those concerned about having to set up a new goal to enter the contest, I’ve found that it can be very useful to have a few ‘placeholder’ goals with $25 in them already set up. That way if something happens where I need to retrieve only a portion of the money I have in a larger goal, I can Just transfer over how much I need to one of my ‘placeholder’ goals, and close out that smaller goal.

  • Dawn

    Keeping my fingers crossed!

  • Heather

    This is pretty cool! I do have a question, though. I didn’t see the full set of directions until after I opened my goal. I chose September 28th as the end of my goal and didn’t didn’t realize I was supposed to state what I use my credit card for until later. After I found the link with the instructions, I edited my goal to change the date and to describe my credit card use. Am I disqualified now?

     

    Heather,

    I have a few questions for you regarding this issue.  Would you e-mail me at SFoss@SmartyPig.com and we can discuss your specific situation further?

    Thanks!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • HCB

    Hi,
    My significant other is a co-owner on the account, can we both enter separately from the account or does he need to establish an account in which he is the primary owner? He has a different funding source than I do, if that matters.
    Thanks!

     

    HCB,

    To be fair to all account holders, we will only take one entrance per account.  

    If you have additional questions, feel free to contact me:  

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • Kisha

    Can I start the new goal with more then $25? Or does the contest rules only allow you to begin it with that amount? (Since I am going to continue using it as a savings option)

    Thanks!

     

    Kisha,

    You can certainly start the goal with more than $25! Best of Luck!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • VA Banker

    I’ve worked at Financial Institutions for years and I LOVE SmartyPig. It’s an amazing way to SAVE!!!!

    Paying off my debts would be a great bonus ;) !!!

  • lovely

    I’d love to participate, but I’ve got one last credit card to pay off in October. Then, I’m in!

  • Leslie McNary

    If I start and say am saving to pay off a debt of $1,500, what if others are trying to pay of lesser amounts? I don’t get how this would be fair if you don’t start with the same goal amount?

     

    Leslie,

    Users are allowed to have different monetary goals, reaching them at different rates.  We will randomly select eight finalists and award the winner $4,951 despite what their goal might be.  For instance:  Jack has a goal of $2,500 and Jane has a goal of $6,500, they are both randomly picked as two of the eight finalists.  Both Jack and Jane would receive $4,951, if chosen as the winner, even though their goals are quite different. 

    If you have further questions, feel free to reach out to me!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • mmartin

    this page should have a link to opening an accountt. :(

     

    MMartin,

    Here is a link to our Registration page! Once logged in, users can create a new goal.  

    https://www.smartypig.com:443/registration/step1

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • DIonisio Acosta

    Hi,
    After creating my smarty pig race out of debt account I noticed I had put the end date for the account on sept 27 instead of it being after sept 28. I quickly changed the date to sept 29-my question is: Am I still qualified to be in the contest? Thanks!

     

    Hi Dlonisio,

     

    You are still qualified for the contest.  We pull entries at the end of the contest, so your date change will not be a problem. 

     

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • Rory

    Race to the top, just like the education benefits

  • MAB

    I stopped using credit cards more than a year ago and have been debt-free since March. While the contest name is “Race Out of Debt,” having credit card debt is apparently not an entry requirement. However, when setting up the new goal, how am I to answer the question of what I use my credit card for?

     

    MAB - 

    Thanks for your note.  Do you have any big purchases coming up? Perhaps holiday gifts, a vacation, or something new for your home? Congratulations on paying off your debt last March! We want to include all users, so you’re right, those without debt are certainly not excluded.  Feel free to include one of the suggested items above or something of the like!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    SFoss@SmartyPig.com

  • Just me :-)

    Contest rules state, “You must also choose a funding frequency. … You may choose any of our funding frequencies available and it will not affect your participation in the contest.” Thus, is choosing the option “None” under “Funding Frequency” when setting up the goal acceptable? Do not want to inadvertently disqualify myself.

     

    Hi Just you - 

    Choosing “None” is acceptable.  You are still entered.  Good Luck!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • Brooke

    If I create more than one new account labeled “Race out of debt” will I be entered more than once?

     

    Hi Brooke,

    Unfortunately we only allow users to enter once.  

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • Kristina

    I just entered… we have one debt for when our frige busted. Lowe’s offered us 0% for 12 months and we took it. I didn’t have room to state this, but what we would use the rest of the money for is to pay for the new sewer being placed in our area. The $4,951 would sure help out. Already have a goal set up for this ($15,000 estimated) as we don’t want to take out the counties generous (with much sarcasm) offer of a 5.25% 15 year loan. Come on Piggies!

  • tbc3

    Since I just KNOW my piggy will win, what will his prize be? (the actual pig, of course) ;-) I feel bad having him do all the work, since SmartyPig makes it way too easy to save.

  • Craig

    Would be nice if they’d send an email out confirming that you’re entered properly!!

  • jp

    does the pig have a name?

  • Jennifer Reda

    This contest is so awesome! Thanks!

  • Jody

    All entered and WAITING TO WIN!! ;-)

  • http://suziesavings.wordpress.com Rachel

    Sounds amazing! Just don’t hurt any piggies in the process.

  • Zuck

    Can I add more than $25 to my goal or does the initial addition have to be $25 exactly?
    Thanks!

     

    Zuck,

    You certainly can add more than $25 to begin you goal! Good Luck to you!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • David

    I just created my goal today, but it probably won’t be funded till after 9/27. Will it be counted as an entry?

    Thanks.

     

    David - 

    If you put your initial $25 into the account it will count as an entry, but that transfer must take place before the contest closes this morning. Don’t hesitate to call or e-mail me with more specific questions! 

    Sarah Foss SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

    515.221.4261 SFoss@Smartypig.com

  • Green pig

    May the best smarty pig win!

  • reid

    cool.

  • EB

    Hoping I win!!!! This would help get me outta debt before my daughter is born. I grew up on a large farm in Southeast Iowa.

  • Matthew

    How is the race coming?

     

    Matthew, It’s great, thanks for asking! Be sure to tune in today for the big results!

     

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • pili

    I love this contest,Race out of debt & I hope to win!!!! I’m crossing my fingers!!! pili ~.~

  • Mike

    What time is the race?

     

    Mike, 

    The race is at 3 PM CST time today! The blog will be posted on the site at that time, followed by a call from our CEO to the winner.  

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • Venita

    Have the 8 finalist already been notified they were picked?

    Venita,

     

    The finalists have not been notified.  Finalists and the winner will all learn together at the 3 PM CST viewing of the race video!

    Sarah Foss, SmartyPig Public Relations & Social Media

  • Jason

    Lol im so excited. Good luck to everybody!!!! :p (hope i win)

  • Paula

    hello – does anybody know where can i watch the race? i cant find any links to it :-( (
    ty!

  • Kate

    Oh, darn, just clicked on the link to see that the contest has been over for days….booo.

  • Pingback: SmartyPig: Race Out of Debt Contest | Personal Investment Strategy

  • Pingback: SmartyPig Contest Offers Up Almost $5000 to Winner

Popular Posts

Recent Comments

Top Tags

Archives