I started researching my family history less than two months ago after doing a free online course and have been able to get online copies instantly from Scotlandspeople at a very reasonable cost. I now have every line traced back to the early 1800s and am currently working on addresses, employment, where they might have worked etc.
I would wholeheartedly agree with Furret about not copying anyone else's research. Some people put down any rubbish.
I also learned my lesson today on not relying on transcriptions. It was the 1871 census and the transcription listed a large number of people at the address including just the children of my gt,gt, grandparents. I paid for sight of the original document and found the transcription, which I would normally have accepted, was appallingly inaccurate. It has combined several households, misspelled names etc.
I am having so much fun. It's totally engrossing (and highly addictive).