Beginner - HELP & advise please.

[Biggles50]

I have been using RootsMagic for quite a few years now.
There is a free version available, RootsMagic Essentials - this can be upgraded to the full version.

Start with your parents and grandparents.
Work back a generation at a time.
Use sites such as FreeBMD.org.uk to find births, marriages and deaths.

Following my own advice, I have traced back to mid-1500's

And I don't use DNA!!

Finally, post questions here on RootsChat!

I spent 15 years building my family tree before I took a DNA test.

The result of the DNA test is that one branch of it is NOT my biological family.

In the BBC Sounds series The Gift, one guy spent 30 years researching his family tree before taking a DNA test.  He could not link any DNA matches into his tree, then his “parents” owned up that he was adopted.

So without DNA validating each branch of any family tree said tree is potentially a work of fiction.

Do not waste time researching on “paper” alone, take a DNA test and use the results in your research.

[josey]

Welcome to rootschat, lots of knowledgeable and helpful people here.

Can't see these tips mentioned above but

 - KEEP A RECORD of where and how you found each piece of information - the website address, reference number etc. If you don't I can guarantee it will come back to bite you.
- And if you post a query here on rootschat, do tell us what you already know so we don't chase duplicate material.
- Keep copies on your own device [laptop or similar] of any documents you find online, then you  have control of it and can see it when offline or when subscriptions have lapsed
- Keep records filed clearly on your laptop in [say] family name sub folders in a main family history folder.
- my advice is to use standalone software [I use Rootsmagic] to build and keep tree; back it up regularly to a standalone disk or cloud as a .gedcom [the standard format for FH files which makes them transferrable between different softwares] and upload a .gedcom to ancestry if you have a subs [this makes people in the tree findable by others who may be looking for the same people].

[mazi]

Don’t hesitate to come back on here with any questions or just reassurance that you are on the right lines, just don’t ask the same question in two different threads


Mike

[Darnity]

You might find this book helpful:

https://www.familyhistorybooksonline.com/how-to-discover-your-family-history-using-free-resources-by-anthony-e-trice-372

See if your local library has it.

[JessiT]

Assuming that you are in England, then most local libraries have free access to Ancestry and Findmypast.

As a beginner I got very excited about that but then I found that my local library limits you to one hour per day and doesn't have access to find my past.

Jessit

[Ashtone]

I don't think anyone has yet mentioned familysearch
And FreeReg
And FreeCen

They were mentioned in the WDYTYA tutorial links provided in Reply #1. 
Specifically, the The best free genealogy websites link

[rosie99]

If you do decide to splash the cash on an Ancestry sub there are links to a cheap deal on this thread
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=832955.279

[Seelife]

Hi Gary, welcome. Lots of super good advice already posted. I would add Wikitree.com as both a resource and to build a tree. Trees are somewhat more validated and require sources where many other systems don't. It is a bit US centric but there is a huge active UK scene.

[12tootsi34]

Good evening Mr West. I am a West so where was your father born? I see your emblem is a RAF badge so when were you in the mob?