Review: Saving Memories Forever

Genealogy is becoming more and more popular with young and old alike. Many companies offer services for discovering the records that show the relationships and events in your family’s history, however few focus solely on the part of our hobby that most people are drawn to: family stories. Saving Memories Forever is a new and exciting resource that helps us record these stories for our family. Their easy-to-use system helps us discover, preserve, and share these stories.

Getting started with Saving Memories Forever is easy. First, download the free Android or iPhone app. Follow the prompts within the app to register on their site for either a free or premium membership. Unlike some “free” options, Saving Memories Forever is still useful on this level. However, the affordable premium membership adds benefits such as additional storytellers, additional listeners, attached photographs and transcripts, and more. This is helpful for creating a family collection of stories with others, especially if you have family located across the country or world.

Once you launch your app, it is easy to start following the prompts within to discover family stories. Your first category choice allows you to pick questions by age divisions. Not only are these questions fantastic for prompting the memory of our older generation (or ourselves!) but they are also wonderful for using with children. Adults are not the only people with stories worth recording! Capture the memories of this year as well. Children, for example, will find age-appropriate prompts like the following:

• Tell me about your friends.
• Describe your childhood home.
• Describe your siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.

Saving Memories Forever provides outstanding service and support. Located on the company website are resources such as a free User’s Manual, a “Helpful Tips” section, and a Quick Start Guide. A blog and Facebook page are also available for additional resources.

Parents can’t overlook the educational aspect of the app as well. Because the app is so easy to use, even young children can act as interviewer or session facilitator guiding their family member through the process. This will encourage speaking and interviewing skills as well as project management. And, it’s just too cool to see their project take shape right in front of your eyes. I highly recommend including Saving Memories Forever as part of your family history (or homeschool!) project today.

Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored nor did The In-Depth Genealogist receive any compensation for it in any way. However, IDG’s Creative Director Stephanie Pitcher Fishman has a professional relationship with Saving Memories Forever through her company, Corn and Cotton Genealogy.