It's very easy to think that we need to spend big bucks to travel to historic sites in order to undertake family tree research. But many times that is just not true. Most people get their start in genealogy research for free, asking questions of their parents, grandparents and other close family members. This is a very non-threatening way to "get your feet wet". But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be well prepared. Search for all the facts you can to prepare for those first few interviews with updated records of names, places, birth dates and death dates.
I know, I know, that sounds remarkably like school...but if you do it right it can also be fun and you can find out about your family heritage from those who really care. Later, when you are on various sites doing free genealogy search or pouring through census forms and death records at the research library, you will recall all the great discussions you had with your family and the heroic and not so heroic stories that they told you about your ancestors.
The key to success in genealogy is to be prepared. Make sure that before each interview, no matter how casual it may be, you review the family tree for that person's lineage. Search through your records to make sure that you are familiar with the parents, grandparents and the locations, sites of birth, marriage and death. If you are missing information, you are free to ensure that your records highlight those questions so that you don't miss a thing. Make sure that you document their sources, even if it is just a story. Make sure that you note the date and time of the interview and all of the people that attended.
After the interview, free up the time to review your information and clean up the notes. Search for spelling mistakes; verify the birth date and death date records and all related sites. The care you put into the interview and later documentation will pay off dividends later when you uncover a detail that reveals a new genealogy trail to trace or an important story that your family can share.
