answers1: I started researching before computers so every time I wrote
a letter I included a check. With the resources that are available to
day, that has changes and instead of writing letters I take trips to
the places I am researching. I have subscriptions to a couple Web
Sites, and a member of several genealogical societies; make donations
to several smaller genealogical libraries. I volunteer at the local
Family History Center. It has gotten more costly over the years, but
I also use public libraries and their subscriptions to some
institutional websites as well as the Family History Center and that
access to subscriptions so, in my opinion the cost is reasonable and
most can be written off as I also have a research business
answers2: What Ted said... <br>
and I'm tired. <br>
I spent more than you want to guess, years ago, when there was NO
INTERNET and you sometimes had to travel across the country to find
hidden facts. <br>
Now, I spend zero, use the internet (but I know it all isn't online).
I don't subscribe to anything, would probably use
ancestry.com if I
could. <br>
It all depends on how much your good history means to you. By the
way... DONE is not a genealogy word. It is never "done".
answers3: I have purchased a few certificates and several Wills, cost
of travelling to and parking at records offices and National Archives,
also purchasing photocopies of records...so averaging that out over
the years...so a very cheap and enjoyable hobby ............. now the
cost of broadband and a PC to keep all my tree in my database, to
email other contacts...I don't use commercial websites so don't pay
monthly fees for them.......
answers4: I spend very little on genealogy. Typically I'll pay for
records when I hit a brick wall, know that record will crack it, and
know I can't find it for free. I will also gladly pay for photocopies.
I do spend a little each year on seminars/fairs. I haven't yet spent
too much on traveling, except locally, but would gladly do so. <br>
<br>
A few tips: <br>
<br>
-Family History Centers and some public libraries offer free access to
paid subscriptions sites like
ancestry.com. <br>
<br>
-Use free software like PAF. Also use electronic files and back ups to
save on cabinets, boxes, binders, paper, etc. <br>
<br>
-Save up a long list of research to do on a particular website, then
sign up for a free trial and do all that research during the trial
period. <br>
<br>
-Connect with other family members. Uncle John might already have the
birth certificate you want. Likewise this also means I'm willing to
share with family, even if I paid for it. Some of my family members
are willing to share costs for certain items. <br>
<br>
-Utilize interlibrary loan to order books and microfilm from other
libraries. Sometimes there is a small fee, but it's usually still
cheaper than ordering the document from the issuing agency. <br>
<br>
-When ordering vital records, make sure the record you're ordering is
for the correct person/ancestor in advance so you're not wasting
money. Indexes and connecting with others helps here. Also, be smart
about the information provided to the person doing the lookup (on
forms) to avoid a return of "could not find". Sometimes they won't use
too much intelligence when it comes to alternate spellings or dates.
<br>
<br>
-Spend money wisely. It's cheaper to pay for a photocopy, or even more
copies than you need, than to make a second trip, for example.
Likewise, the little money I spend on fairs every year gives me
invaluable information from experts that saves me time and money in
the long run. <br>
<br>
-Take notes about where records are and how to get them. When you have
a little extra spending money, go ahead and order the record then. For
example, I know ancestors were married from free census and marriage
indexes. The index tells me exactly where the marriage record is and
how to order it. I'll set it aside and order the marriage record at a
later date. <br>
<br>
-Don't order records that won't be of help to you. On the other hand,
spend money that will be of use. For example, I won't order records I
know will be in a language, dialect, and/or script I can't read unless
I'm also willing to pay an expert for translation.
answers5: That's like asking how much it costs to prepare a meal;
different people have different tastes. I know a woman who serves $2
bottles of wine to guests. I figure on $10 per bottle when it's just
my wife and I, $15 - $20 per bottle when we have company, a little
more for special occasions. When our daughter came home from three
years in the Peace Corps, for instance, we had a welcome-home dinner
with a few friends, six $30 bottles and a $80 one. <br>
<br>
If a couple of graduate students invite me to dinner, I'll expect
something ethnic with hamburger in it. When my stock broker takes me
out to lunch, she is insulted if I didn't order the steak. <br>
<br>
You can do it entirely for free. You can spend thousands. If you like
to snow ski, you can go the cross-country route and ski in national
forests, or spend upwards of $400 a day on "Lift 'n Lodge" packages.
Once you buy the equipment, the cross-country option doesn't cost
anything but the gas to get there. If you fly to Aspen and buy some
chic outfits, you could spend a couple of thousand, easily. <br>
<br>
I spent $29 for my program, Roots Magic, and buy the new version every
3rd time it comes out - that is, I had FOW 6 and 9, then RM 1 and 3.
You can get PAF from the Mormons for free. <br>
<br>
I subscribe to Ancestry.com for $159 a year. That works out to $13 a
month, which isn't much to me. <br>
<br>
I have bought SS-5's at $27 each. <br>
<br>
I have paid people to look up obituaries, and other records; sometimes
when they aren't on-line it is cheaper to ask the county genealogy
society is anyone there would be willing to do the work for cash than
to fly halfway across the country and rent a hotel room. <br>
<br>
What seems like a small amount to me would be a huge amount to a
student with a paper route, and petty cash to Warren Buffet or Bill
Gates.
answers6: Sometimes I buy the birth and death certificates. I've paid
for
ancestry.com before, but you should be able to access records
through your local library's website for free.
answers7: So far, I have spent several hundred dollars...and thousands
of hours. I have endured frustration, an upset wife, sons who scoff
and say "We all have common ancestors, so why bother", etc. <br>
<br>
Sometimes I believe I have gone as far as I can; I have not found any
new ancestors in months. <br>
<br>
As to the money part: some was online subscriptions, some was books.
I know that I have ancestors from the Germanna Colony and that came
over on the Mayflower (the Separtists, not the Strangers), so I have
several books re Germanna Colony and several re Mayflower Desendants,
etc. Most public libraries have only local genealogies....And most
librarians do not know how to properly use the Inter Library Loan
system.