When it comes to funeral expenses, there are plenty of ways you can cover them without depleting your personal savings account.
Before anything else, do your research. Prices between funeral homes and cemeteries can vary significantly.
1. Shop Around
When planning your own funeral or helping another family member bury their beloved, there are several ways you can reduce costs.
By shopping around, you can save thousands of dollars on the cost of a funeral service. Just as you would compare prices when purchasing a car, ask for price lists from multiple funeral homes for competitive pricing.
Federal law gives you the right to know what goods and services you’ll receive at a funeral home. They must provide you with a General Price List, which must include current prices for 16 specified items such as basic services fee, viewing facilities, caskets, and outer burial containers.
2. Opt for Cremation
Cremation is a cost-effective alternative to traditional burials for those looking to forgo the high cost of traditional burials. The process reduces the body to ashes, which can then be scattered or placed in a columbarium.
However, families who don’t know how to budget may face an overwhelming expense. So it is essential that families shop around for the best deals available.
Furthermore, cremation costs tend to rise more slowly than burial costs do. By opting for cremation at the end of life, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars in costs.
3. Avoid Embalming
One of the cheapest ways to bury someone is by forgoing embalming. This can save you thousands on funeral costs as well as some end-of-life expenses like a viewing and memorial service.
Under the Funeral Rule, funeral homes must disclose prices for services and goods when you meet with them, including fees for embalming.
You can avoid embalming by planning an immediate burial or direct cremation.
Embalming is not required by law in most U.S. states, and you can usually avoid it by asking your funeral home to use a basic casket instead of an expensive “sealed” or “protective” one.
4. Provide Your Own Urn or Casket
If you plan to bury your loved one’s ashes, purchasing your own urn or casket can help save money. That is because funeral homes and crematoriums cannot refuse your purchased vessel nor charge you a fee for transferring the ashes into it.
Cremated remains can be housed in a variety of urns, such as metal, glass and stone. Keepsake urns are another option for those who wish to give their loved one a keepsake.
5. Hold the Service at a Church or Other Venue
If the deceased had a strong religious affiliation, holding the service at their church can be an appropriate option. This can provide comfort and meaning to mourners during this difficult time.
Churches often host services, visitations and receptions, as well as having cemeteries on-site.
If you choose to have the service at a church, make sure the pastor is familiar with your loved one’s background and can share personal stories during the funeral service. Doing this will make everyone more at ease during the eulogy and offer them an opportunity to say their final farewells.
6. Avoid Overspending on Flowers
When it comes to funeral costs, it’s essential not to overspend. Doing so could result in feeling the need to make a grand gesture or spending money that you don’t really have.
One way to prevent emotional overspending is by planning ahead and discussing your wishes with family members. Doing this will give them comfort that you’ll be remembered with love, so they don’t need to spend excessive amounts of money on funeral arrangements.
Another way to reduce the cost of funeral flowers is by shopping around for them. Local flower shops may offer better deals than high-end boutiques.