Remember the good old days when you could buy a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk for less than a dollar? I'm sure you'll agree that every year prices seem to rise while wages barely keep up. Though genealogy is a healthy and relaxing hobby, we all know indulging that interest takes a back seat to paying the bills.

 

But don't let budget woes discourage you from digging up your roots. Frugal genealogists have found plenty of ways to do their research without breaking the bank (and without scrounging under the sofa for spare change!). Over the years, I've developed my own money-saving strategies to keep me focused on the bottom line. Of course, you'll have to consider the time-versus-convenience factor — being thrifty is about saving both time and money, after all. But if you adopt these penny-pinching measures, you'll be surprised just how much you can save. Heck, you might free up enough of next year's budget to afford a trip to your ancestral homeland.