Black Friday for Genealogists: The Tools I Can't Live Without + How to Shop Smart

Summary

With Black Friday approaching, Lisa from “Are You My Cousin?” walks viewers through a practical genealogy shopping strategy and the tools she actually uses. She offers a three-question evaluation framework (use frequency, time/record value, and whether you’d repurchase) and highlights core subscriptions—Ancestry (ProTools/networks + DNA), MyHeritage (WGS + photo suite), Newspapers.com, and Findmypast—alongside tech helpers like PhotoMine, MemoryCherish, external drives, a tech organizer, camera mount, and lightboard. Lisa advises auditing subscriptions, listing top research problems, setting a budget, testing overlap, and prioritizing purchases—reminding viewers the best sale is the tool you’ll truly use.

Takeaways

• 😀 Black Friday is an excellent time to shop for genealogy tools, including subscriptions and DNA test kits, but not everything on sale is essential for your research.
• 😀 The tools you choose for your genealogy research should be regularly used (at least once a month), save significant time, and provide unique records you can't access elsewhere.
• 😀 Ancestry.com is a core tool in the genealogy toolbox, with its vast records, DNA test kits, and the powerful Networks tool to break down research brick walls.
• 😀 MyHeritage is another major player in the genealogy research toolbox, known for its international records, DNA test kits with whole genome sequencing, and a robust photo tool suite.
• 😀 Newspapers.com, though owned by Ancestry, offers a separate subscription and is invaluable for uncovering personal stories, obituaries, and other details about ancestors.
• 😀 Find My Past is focused on UK, Irish, and Australian genealogy records, making it essential for researchers with roots in these regions.
• 😀 Black Friday deals often offer the best discounts of the year for genealogy tools, including DNA kits, subscriptions, and tech gadgets.
• 😀 PhotoMine is a top tech tool for scanning old family photos quickly, allowing users to scan both the front and back of photos for complete documentation.
• 😀 Memory Cherish is a service for restoring old, damaged family photos, ideal for pictures beyond the repair skill level of most genealogists.
• 😀 External hard drives are a must-have for backing up genealogy research, including family trees, photos, and videos. They are essential for protecting your valuable work.
• 😀 A tech organizer is a simple yet indispensable tool for traveling genealogists, keeping cords, chargers, and backup devices neatly packed for easy access.
• 😀 When shopping for genealogy tools during the holiday season, create a plan by prioritizing your research problems, auditing current subscriptions, setting a budget, and assessing the usefulness of each tool before making a purchase.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video revolves around helping genealogists identify the essential tools they need for their research, specifically through Black Friday deals, while also providing advice on how to evaluate these tools for their utility and cost-effectiveness.

What are the three questions Lisa asks herself when evaluating genealogy tools?

The three questions Lisa asks herself are: 1) Do I use this tool at least once a month? 2) Will this tool save me significant time or unlock records that I can't get anywhere else? 3) Would I buy this product again if I didn’t have access to it today?

What are the two main genealogy websites that Lisa recommends?

Lisa recommends Ancestry.com and MyHeritage, highlighting them as her main research tools due to their vast record databases, including the ProTools feature on Ancestry and MyHeritage’s DNA and photo features.

How does Ancestry.com’s 'Networks' tool help Lisa in her research?

Ancestry.com’s 'Networks' tool helps Lisa by incorporating additional people around her ancestors—such as their friends, associates, and neighbors—into her research, which is essential for breaking down genealogy brick walls and understanding the broader context of her ancestors' lives.

What specific feature of MyHeritage does Lisa enjoy using?

Lisa enjoys using MyHeritage’s robust photo suite, which allows her to work with old family photos and make them more engaging for her family, helping to spark interest in her genealogy research.

Why is newspapers.com an essential tool in Lisa’s genealogy toolbox?

Newspapers.com is an essential tool for Lisa because it provides access to historical newspapers that tell stories about her ancestors, such as obituaries, wedding announcements, and even more personal or scandalous details that help bring their lives to life and aid in research.

What is the focus of Find My Past, and why does Lisa use it?

Find My Past is a genealogy database focused primarily on UK, Irish, and Australian records. Lisa uses it because her ancestry has deep roots in these regions, making it a valuable resource for her research into her British Isles ancestors.

What are some tech tools Lisa uses to make her genealogy research more efficient?

Some tech tools Lisa uses include the PhotoMine app for quick photo scanning, Memory Cherish for photo restoration, an external hard drive for backing up research, and a tech organizer for managing cables and devices while traveling or researching on the go.

How does Lisa use her external hard drive in her genealogy research?

Lisa uses her external hard drive to back up important research files, including photographs, family trees, and videos. It provides her with a portable and secure way to store and access her data whenever she travels to research events or conferences.

What advice does Lisa give for Black Friday shopping for genealogy tools?

Lisa advises viewers to be intentional about their purchases, evaluating whether the tool will solve an active research problem, checking for overlaps with existing subscriptions, and being honest about whether the tool will actually be used in their research. She also recommends setting a budget before the sales and prioritizing tools that will address the biggest genealogical roadblocks.