January 4

January 4 – Spent too much on holiday gifts? Evaluate your 2012 genealogy budget. For tips on curbing research expenses, see various magazine articles that have been written over the years.

Here are a few that I have come across.

• Go to the Library and use their Ancestry.com Library Edition to lookup records, besides all the genealogy holdings they might personally have.
• Visit a neighborhood Family History Center
• Surf the Free Web Sites.
• Request a free lookup.
• Subscribe to a free genealogy e-mail newsletter
• Submit on-line queries asking for much needed information or documents.
• Print free blank forms on-lines, no need to pay for your research form.
• Practice good record-keeping. Avoid requesting for a duplicate record.
• Take advantage of free demos and downloads. Software can be expensive, try before buying.
• Join a genealogical society. The resources the organization offers to its members can be a real bargain.
• Maximize your spending. Before signing up for multiple societies or online subscriptions, know what you’re getting. Shop around, wait for deals and make sure you not signing up twice to access the same information.
• Consider self-publishing (on-demand printing) rather than short-run publishing. But consider publishing to help raise funds but with on-demand printing save on storage, shipping and handling cost.
• Share your family history on-line to reach a wider audience and help expand your tree.
• Attending seminars or free events at your local library, genealogical society or even college. A great way to build your research skills and network with other like-minded people.  Even if the seminars are not free, you get a lot of value for your money.
• Consider group rates, when it comes to research trips, you’ll find savings in numbers. If an organization in your area is planning on a trip, going with them might save you money.
• Why pay for a map for your  ancestor’s hometown when you can request a map through the local chamber of commerce or tourist agency.
• Go Digital… It used to be that one should get a camera, but most smartphones have camera’s and you can even download an app to scan documents. You might consider a Tablet or iPad to take pictures, scan and record notes.
• Make low-cost copies. As mentioned above, you might want to cut back on paper copies and use your digital camera to take pictures of records.
• Look for book bargains via free online collections.
• Never pay full price. Look for bargains, shop discount sections, use coupons, check out ebay, find the sales.
• Save on Vital records cost; ask for uncertified copies of vital records if you can. Some states offer these at a much lower cost.
• Join a mailing list or subscribe to a genealogy blog.
• Divide and conquer – ask your relatives to help out and sharing the workload can help you save time and money.
• Pay it forward – lend a hand and volunteer your time. Help with online indexing projects or volunteer at your local genealogy library.