Family tree relevant to both sides of my family and the kids but unsure where to start

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As the title suggests I would like to do a family tree beginning with myself, DH and our two DC now teens. But would like it to include my side of the family and DH’s. Where on earth do I start in terms and how should I plot it out is their a good free programme or what do you all use please? Also who should I include i.e. should I just include mine and DH’s siblings and parents or just parents etc. Any other useful tips would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks

I would also like to include both my parents and also DH’s parents etc. but worried it maybe too broad and confusing?

There is no right or wrong. It can be as basic or as complex as you like.

American focused, but have a look at something such as Family TreeBuilder to see if it might suit your needs. There are countless other free and/or at a cost alternatives out there. Hopefully you will get some suggestions soon.

Look for one that will work with whichever computer you mainly use (eg Windows/Android/Apple).

I've used Ancestry on free trials and then the odd paid month to use all the automated tips and tree connections. I include everyone as its more interesting especially at the great aunts level, but obviously focussed on the direct line for both of us first

I would begin with you and your husband. Work back in time and get documents and list them as your source. Birth, baptismal, marriage and death registrations. They will contain parents names relevant for verifying the info in your tree.
Then move on to your parents, then your grandparents ect.
Once you have a few generations you may wish to fill out the bones by adding all the children of the parents and grandparents.
I use FamilytreeMaker program, and have an ancestry account for searching for records to verify. I can use ancestry on any device/screen but the ftm program is windows so I use that on my laptop.
Happy hunting!

I'd just start with your dc, then go upwards with you two as parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents to start with, as far back as you can get. Then you can add your siblings, their partners and any dc, then add aunts, uncles, cousins etc. But start simple.

A sheet of A3 paper on the wall and some mini post-it notes will help to begin with!

I use Ancestry - currently over 7000 people in the tree, so A4 paper isn't much use! Even if you only do direct ancestors it gets massive quite quickly; and keeping the notes which help you find things out almost invariably involves knowing at least siblings.

Be aware that a lot of Ancestry users have no idea what they're doing. Some of them will just shove in anything that looks vaguely appropriate, without even checking dates. Others live in the US and don't realise that ten miles is a big deal in 18th-century Leicestershire!

I use Ancestry at the moment but have done separate trees for me and Dh. But our names feature on both. I’ve also separated both paternal grandparents and created thier own tree each and done one for my maternal Grandmother (grandfather is too difficult as he was from Poland and I know nothing of his side of family!!)

I’m Glad I did as it turns out my family surname(from my dad) is also a large feature on my mums history so I have the same names popping up over and over even though there’s no connection to the two families!
Also I’ve since found that my paternal grandparents both originate from the same (Scottish) ancestors.

This way I can keep track of it all

Ancestry is very useful, but whatever you do op don't rely on other people's family trees. Most of them seem to contain an element of sloppy research, wishful thinking and outright fantasy.