We all have that urge to try to find out where we come from. It’s human nature to be curious about ancestry and those who lived and made our life possible. Unfortunately, most people don’t have a large family tree to look back on. In fact, a lot of people are lucky enough to go as far back as their great grandparents. There are quite a few programs and even private investigators that can help you figure out just where you came from though, but these forms of investigation might end up costing you more than you’d imagined. There’s a few ways to get around the price tag though, especially if you’re only looking to start out your search as an occasional hobby. With a few tips in the right direction you’ll be more than ready to discover your roots and learn the story behind you heritage.
1. Ask Family
When it comes to finding out more about your ancestors your best bet might be to ask your family members. You should start with your parents, of course, and then move on to more extended relatives. As you begin to learn more and more names and dates then you’ll be able to piece information together better and faster. Sometimes our relatives don’t always know much about their family, which is why your research is so important. You might also have to think a little out of the box in regards to who to ask about what information. For instance, you might end up contacting someone you’ve never met before in your life. Simply follow the leads your family gives you and you’ll be ready for an amazing look into your storyline. Even if you can only go back as far as your grandparents or great grandparents you still might be in for a surprise as to how fast those branches fill up when you start looking into information.
2. Free Data Bases
When you begin your search you should always be aware that there are free resources out there. Don’t think you automatically have to subscribe to items just because that’s what everyone else is doing. In fact there are dozens of websites dedicated to helping you find your ancestors. Of course, you might not have an easy time doing so as you have to know what you’re looking for when it comes to many of the websites. However, if you do have a pretty general idea you may be able to find a wide selection of potential leads. The leads may not become what you hope, but you’ll at least be a little further in your journey than when you started. If you’re looking for a public document, such as a marriage, birth or death records then you may be in luck. A lot of places might make you pay a fee to have a mailed copy of the certificate, but a lot of the time the records can do just as good.
3. Start Simple
Researching your roots can be tough and at times you may find it frustrating. This is why you should always start simple instead of leaping into unknown territory. If you’re willing to put some money into your search and are entirely clueless as to where to begin then you may want to look into your surname. This will actually point you in the direction of one of your countries of origin. There’s a lot of countries that will do this task at a very low price, while others will charge you an arm and a leg. Of course, you can also simply go online and type in your surname to see possible origins. This is a great way to learn the basics of your family and you can even do it for all of the last names you know your family has taken on. For a lot of people this information is plenty enough, but for others it is just a stepping stone to get you on your way. Another simple trick is to Google names, such as those of your grandparents. You might find some cool stuff online that won’t cause you a lot of frustration.
4. DNA Test
Nothing tells the story of you quite like some good old fashioned DNA. If you’re looking to know where your ancestors originated, without so much the family tree aspect, then you may want to try getting a DNA test. These tests used to be incredibly expensive, but now they range around $100 and can really give you some intricate details about your roots. Of course, many of the test can only tell the maternal side for women, but others can do amazing work to find a full line. Before you look into getting a DNA test make sure you know what each company offers. There’s many who just tell you what percentage of a nationality you are, while other tests will actually connect you to cousins you would not have known otherwise. One of the cool things about these tests is they really do open up some doors and for such an amazing price who can resist?
5. Short Subscriptions
For many people the urge to find ancestors hits in burst. Work, school, money and life in general tend to get in the way of the search, which is one reason why you shouldn’t buy long subscriptions to services that offer you records to help find your roots. Instead, buy a short subscription. This will not only save you money, but will motivate you to get working on the project at hand rather than procrastinating until the last week of your year long subscription. Buying a shorter subscription won’t just help you get motivated though. A lot of the time when someone gets a subscription all of the information becomes a little too much to process. So, instead of compiling document after document that you’ll eventually get around to you can stop and take the time to look at each document when the subscription is up. Then, when you’re ready to get back to researching you’ll have a better idea as to what you need to be looking for.
6. Wait For Free Trials
Of course, if you are on a tight budget and still want to stroll around some of the pay sites then you might want to wait around for a free trial. In order to pull in more business many websites will actually offer free trials to non-subscribers. This is one of the best times to get some of your major research done. You might feel like its crunch time, but you’ll certainly be glad you put in the extra time when you get some cool results. You shouldn’t expect to be able to see the entire site as free though. A lot of the time certain databases will be unlocked to the general public, so don’t be disappointed if you do end up finding nothing during the trial. Most sites won’t repeat the same trial often though, so if you keep patient you may get your chance to see the database you’re waiting for. Of course, it does actually help to sign up for the site in which you want the free trial. A lot of the time you’ll be the first to know via email about the trial and the trial may even be privy only to subscribers.
7. Coupons
You may be a little surprised to know that you can actually use a coupon on your ancestry research. There’s a lot of online coupons available for databases, so if you’re planning to subscribe then you may want to look around to save a little money. Coupons are one of the best ways to get a deal on some of these databases, so make sure you’re armed when the time comes. If you don’t want to do even more research then skip the search and sign up for the database you’re looking into. A lot of the time they’ll email promo codes in order to encourage the flow of business. So, keep an eye on your email account when you feel like it may be time to subscribe. You can also find a coupon for the popular DNA test if you look hard enough. Many of the test will have buy one get one half off coupons that will help you test your entire family!
8. Family History Library
If you live in the USA and want to know more about your relatives dating back to their first appearance in the country, then you may want to check out the Family History Library. This library is funded by the Mormon church and resides in Salt Lake City, Utah so you may have to make a road trip to fully receive its benefits. This church offers people from all over the place a chance to find their family’s documents for absolutely free. You can easily find what you’re looking for here as there are usually clear documents of everyone that resides or resided in the country. Of course, sometimes the documents might be hard to find or unclear. Either way, taking a trip to this amazing document center isn’t just a great way to pay homage to your roots, but will enlighten you for a price that is substantially lower than hiring a private investigator
9. Support Groups
For many people it is hard to actually keep motivation to get the research done. This is where support groups can really help you save on time and money. Usually support groups have a wide range of members, including beginners to people who have dated their family tree back to remarkable periods. With this level of diversity you’ll not only be able to get your questions answered, but you’ll also find encouragement when you felt like there was none left. Support groups can also lead you to find some valuable information that would have otherwise taken lots of time and money. These recommendations usually come from the people who have been researching awhile and are nice enough to share their wisdom. These individuals also know the tricks of the trade and how to find what you’re looking for at a price that won’t make you cringe. So, if you plan on getting serious about your research a support group is a must find.
10. Write Everything Down
One key to the success of your research is to make sure you write every single thing down. Even if you’re not sure it’s important or you don’t know what is! These tiny details can come back to haunt you when the puzzle pieces finally come together. Once you’ve written everything down you should make multiple copies up and put it in different locations. This will help ensure you won’t lose your research and you’ll have everything to help guide you in the right direct if everything lines up correctly. Sometimes people will forget to write down things and they end up forgotten or unclear to the mind. This can be where all of your time and money go down the drain as it is often hard to come across the same detail again. So, make sure you have everything written down so you’ll be ready to decipher your ancestors’ message.
Finding out who you are can be an incredible amount of fun, but it’s up to you not to let it become a financial money pit. There’s lots of ways to seek out information and compile your heritage without spending a lot, so make sure to be careful. With any luck you’ll be able to date back before you great grandparents so you can finally embrace where you came from. With these tips you may even find a renewed love for your investigation.
