Right now I am doing Genealogy on a Budget as it can be an expensive hobby. As subscriptions to all genealogy websites can added up and being quite expensive, from Ancestry.ca, MyHeritage.com, Newspapers.com, Fold3.com among others, DNA Kits for family members can add up, ordering offline records and pension files (I haven’t gotten to this yet but have looked into it and it can get pricey)
I thought I would share my tips for how I have been working on my family genealogy on a budget.
- FamilySearch.org it is a free genealogy website for doing research – I am currently doing most of my research on FamilySearch.org to save money.
- Ancestry.ca has some free records – In order to find the free records, go to search then card catalog when browsing the records if it is free it will say free or free index and click on the database and you will be able to search and view the records. Free indexes will just give you the information and where to find the information offline.
- MyHeritage.com has some free records as well – under research and card catalog and browse for the free records to search in.
- Public Libraries – A) Ancestry Library Edition can be used at most libraries which allows you to search Ancestry thru the library subscription and email the record and image to yourself, which you can attached and source to your family tree at home. How to access the Ancestry Library Edition using either the computer at the library or your laptop go the library website and click on Ancestry Library Edition which can only be used while at the library. For St. Catharines Public Library it is located at https://www.myscpl.ca/online-resources/genealogy B) FamilySearch.org although a free website there are some images which can only be viewed thru Affiliate Libraries – such as St. Catharines Public Library C) Microfilm Machines – using microfilm machines at libraries to view old newspapers for birth, engagement, marriage, anniversary, and death announcements. If printing the clipping of what you find there will be small fee. D) Special Collection Rooms – some libraries have special collections of genealogy resources that can’t be taken out but are reference use at the library. The St. Catharines Public Library has a special collections room which can be used during library hours for research.
- Genealogy Education - Going to Genealogy conferences and workshops can add up and be costly. So I love watching Genealogy videos on YouTube some of my favorite channels are Ancestry, Family History Fanatics and Couisn Russ (unfortunately Cousin Russ has passed away in May 2022 – there will be no new videos) and many other videos.
- DNA Kits – I suggest waiting till there is a sale before purchase a DNA kit for yourself or family members.
- FindAGrave.com – Is free site that lets you find the tombstone of your ancestor and where they are buried. Information is uploaded by volunteers by taking pictures of tombstones and noted information.
- Cyndislist.com - Is an excellent free resource for genealogy websites. Although you can't search records on this website. There is lots of websites that are organize to tell you where to go and also tells you whether it is free or a paid subscription website.
I hope my tips on how I do genealogy on a budget will be helpful for others when working on your family tree, as genealogy can be expensive hobby.
For more helpfully tips check out these YouTube videos on Genealogy On A Budget
Family History Fanatics - How to Conduct Genealogy Research on A Budget
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