Bankruptcy

[wini]

Has anyone ever gone broke using credits on SP?
They seem to disappear at a rapid rate.
I think I need to refine my technique

wini

[pinkshoes]

Ha! Not quite bankrupt yet Wini but fair chance of it when new census info arrives

I was thinking just the same about technique, having just recently put my brain in gear and working out how I could maximise the information obtained for one credit instead of using one for each person with the same name. Got that off to a fine(r) art now amd can't believe it's taken me so long

I'm sure the more experienced members could teach us a thing or two - would be very interesting.

Good luck in your searching.

Pinkshoes

[fmackay]

Hi there
I agree - I have spent a small fortune on that site. I wish there was a way of entering a little bit more info so that you had a better chance of finding the right person.
I usually try and share my certs where possible but the effort is sometimes too much!
I think they should either reduce the cost or give us more searches for our money.
What about a membership so that we could get a discount?
Fiona

[garibaldired]

Just thought I'd add my bit too. It is expensive and it would be really helpful if some of the more experienced searchers could give me (as a relatively new user) and others some tips for narrowing search fields. I have got better - I cringe when I think of how much I wasted when I first started out!!
I find it annoying that on the censuses for instance you can't search on places of birth. I know why you can't but perhaps they should take that into account when setting the prices.

Meg

[pinkshoes]

I know it can be expensive once you're hooked but to put it into perspective, the information available on SP is 2nd to none, and improving all the time - I research alongside my English mate, and she spends a fortune on-line to receive only an index at best - once she finds a likely candidate she has to send off for a cert at £7 a throw, with no certainty it's the right one. And actual searching is more difficult too.

So credit where credit's due (no pun intended) - the Scottish system wins hands down (imho).

Guess it's down to us to exercise our inherent canny ways and still achieve our goals - which is where we came in really

BW
Pinkshoes

[fmackay]

Hi pinkshoes
Point taken - I did try accessing english records with limited success so I agree in that respect. Still wish we could input more info to make the search more accurate especially with a name like Mackay!
Fiona

[pinkshoes]

Hi Fiona

You probably know about wildcards - especially useful for the Mc's and Macs? Also think of any conceivable spelling and use wildcards to take account of that, then when you've got some likely suspects, play around with the letters to check what it's coming back with.

In a census I usually go for the most unusual christian name and/or the youngest person (or oldest if they're ancient and I know they were around).

I found in the early days of my searching I tended to narrow my initial search too much - down to one possibility - and used one credit, often for the wrong person, whereas of course you can get up to 25 possibilites for the same one credit. My credit card has survived to tell the tale, but only just. If you've got 25 surnames on one page chances are you'll clock more than one of your people (only works if they're all in the same county of course), and you've still got to use up 5 groats a time to view. However, I've probably saved the equivalent of a month's groceries since I learned to think before I press

Pinkshoes

[CatrionaL]

Hullo all

For births and mariages between 1855 and 1875, I try to get a maximum of information from the IGI before moving over to SP.

Catriona

[fmackay]

Hi all
Yes it's amazing what I've learnt regarding shortcuts etc but it can still end up that you have to access the cert.
I've recently started checking all the early certs which i have and have discovered that since the initial search it turns out that i have rellies on the page which i didn't know about at the beginning so I've saved a little bit there!
By the way can someone tell me is there a way of having an index of your downloaded certs in alphabetical order rather than having to search them all? Is it just me being dumb or is it already possible?
Fiona

[sporran]

Hello Fiona,


in Previous Searches or Viewed Images, click on any underlined heading to sort on that category. A second click reverses the order.


Regards,

John