Genealogy can seem like an expensive hobby due to the overwhelming marketshare the paid sites have on the industry. They hold this stuatus for good reason, don't get me wrong. I also appreciate what the paid sites do for the genealogical community as a whole and the efforts they put forth to preserve and digitize records.
For the most part these paid sites are an aggregate of publicly available records. Therefore, if you know where to find the record, you can avoid paying to access free information.
This is not always possible, and this isn't to say that paid sites do not have their place in your research. They certainly do in mine.
Explore Your Options
Sign up for a variety of ancestry and genealogical websites. They'll each have a good base of the same information, but some may have a specialty they work with that could be handy to your research. Being familiar with the various offerings will allow you to learn where to research.Get Organized
Keep a folder in your file system that is just for genealogy research. After you have a few different record types, you should figure out a way to organize these records that is both easy to maintain and also use.Think about how you will access this information.
Be consistant in the way you name and organize files as you go to avoid being overwhelmed with a sea of files with names you cannot make heads or tales of.
Visit Your Library
Many public libraries offer free access to paid research sites like Fold3.com or Ancestry.com. You can only access these in-library and cannot connect items to your tree. You do have full access to their database for research and download.You can also find free classes available at both public and genealogical libraries covering a variety of topics like DNA testing, research methods, and introduction to genealogy.
Engage Your Community
Reach out to who you know first. Begin with close relatives, asking questions about their knowledge of the family.More distant relatives can be better corresponded with via email, which keeps a handy reference for future needs.
Network in person at some of the library events or local genealogical socieities. Go online and join a few Facebook Groups that are targeted toward your research interests.
On the whole...
Genealogy certainly does not need to cost you a dime to enjoy!Website subscriptions alone can cost hundreds of dollars per year. Memberships to local societies can cost that again.
But these same services have free offerings, as well. Taking advantage of these is the best way to get the most out of your family history journey while staying on a budget.
- Patricia
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