Begin with dates!

One of the first things I did when beginning to track my family history was to go to a dollar store and buy a book-style calendar. I then began to pencil in all the dates I knew beginning with myself and my children by filling in birth dates and my wedding date. I then moved to my parents and siblings, penciling in all the above information for them. I only filled in the dates I knew for sure were exact.

Then when I went some place, I would take the calendar w/me. I would ask my parents or siblings for the exact dates and check the already entered information right there. If the information was correct, I would write over it in ink. I would enter the correct information ink ink.

This strategy had two purposes:

1) Ink with stands fading over time, so the accurate information would always b be there for future reference.

2) When I opened the calendar and saw the information in pencil I knew that information still needed to be checked for accuracy.

I still use the same calendar today! It doesn't matter what year the calendar was because I would enter the the person's name and relevant year under the applicable month and day. Therefore, on March 21, I entered 'Kaitlyn, 1995'. Now I know my nice was born on March 21st in the year 1995.

TIP: When beginning out with the calendar, also carry a little note book w/you. Not only can this be handy for jotting notes, it would also be very handy for writing the person's full name - first, middle, and last. This way you don't need to go back and ask multiple times for the same information!