Cost-Effective Funeral Plan With Style
Death, like taxes, is one of those things that you just can’t avoid. Funeral planning, is expensive. Lets talk about reducing the impact a funeral plan can have financially on loved ones already grieving avoidable loss of your physical presence. With some forethought, a bit of research, and some careful planning, you can put together a funeral plan that suits your personality (or the personality of your deceased loved one), The needs of your bereft friends and family during this time are important without wiping out your life’s savings. Are you Funeral Planning for yourself? Let’s keep away from unexpected, unplanned financial burden on your loved ones.
1 – Shop for Services and Products in Advance
First things first — plan ahead, if at all possible. If you or a loved one is experiencing a terminal illness or getting on in years and you know that eventually the end will come, take the time to address the issues at hand. Funeral Planning in advance, selecting appropriate products and services, and comparison shopping for those products and services for yourself or for your loved one can take a variety of decisions out of the hands of the bereft at a time when they (or you) are ill-equipped to handle them rationally.
- Consider not having a viewing,
- Select a reduced cost casket, vault, cemetery plot, or marker.
- Direct cremation is the lowest cost option.
Pre-need insurance or Payable-on-death (POD) account. There is a type of whole life insurance can be used to prepay for a funeral. It can be paid in installments or as a one-time premium. Your POD type of bank account allows you to set aside funds for your funeral and name a beneficiary who can access the money after you die. Conclusively, you can secure a significant savings by making arrangements and paying for the funeral services well in advance. Basically, very little in this life gets less expensive as time goes on. Today, consider locking in a lower price by paying in advance.
2 – Skip the Embalming if You Can
In many states, embalming is not required. Direct cremation or burial. These options are generally less expensive than traditional funerals because they don’t include embalming, In some states, embalming is only required if you plan to have open casket viewing hours, or an open casket funeral. If an open casket isn’t in your desires or plans, then you may be able to skip this very expensive, and potentially unnecessary part of the funeral preparations.
3– Skip the Casket Altogether if Possible
In some states, a casket is not required for burial or cremation. Do some research in advance to see if a casket is necessary or required where you or your loved one lives. Some states allow burial shrouds, cardboard, or plain wood boxes for either cremation or for burial.
Pass on the “Protective” Casket
A protective or gasketed casket can preserve the body against the elements for a limited time after burial. Some cemeteries require them, but many do not. Carefully consider if an additional layer of protective plastic is worth the several hundred dollars it may take up in your budget.
Provide Your Own Receptacle or Casket
If you or your loved one plans to be cremated, then purchasing an urn made of man-made materials or even marble or precious metals in advance can represent a massive savings over what funeral parlors or mortuaries often charge for them. In some states, you or your loved one can even provide your own casket. There are patterns and instructions available online for building an unadorned pine box that is suitable for burial.
Skip the Vault
If the cemetery of your choice allows it, you may desire to skip the burial vault or to opt for a plain, unlined cement coffin type container.
4 – Choose a Burial on Your Family’s Land
In Oregon state it is legal to bury a body on private land. Check with your local city government for your area regulations.
5 – Skip the Service or Have the Funeral at Home or Al Fresco
Alternative memorial funeral plan. A large part of the bill for a funeral services is typically incurred by hosting the funeral service in the funeral home. You can save by either limiting attendance at the funeral home or graveside, and then having a service elsewhere. You can also save by skipping the service altogether, or having a wake or funeral in the great outdoors at a favorite viewpoint, park, or other natural landmark that may have been of great significance to the deceased or to their family. A picnic or gathering at home, a friends home or family home can be more personal and cheaper than a traditional service.
6 – Donate Your Body to Science
Medical schools are still in need of human bodies for physicians in training to work with. Be sure to check with local medical schools for information. Compensation, in some way, to families for donating a body to science, may also be an option.
- Registration You need to register with a whole body donation program separately from organ donor registration.
- Costs Some programs offer free services to the donor or their family, including transportation and cremation.
- Acceptance Nearly everyone qualifies for donation, and there’s usually no upper age limit.
OHSU Body Donation Program Western University of Health Sciences Body Donation BioGift Anatomical
Save Loved Ones Additional Decision Making in Time of Grief for you
When the loss of a loved one is fresh and painful, it can be very difficult to make informed, wise decisions about how to spend a funeral budget. Remove the burden of decision making while grieving over your loved ones in advance. Now is the time to take advantage of the moment to plan when you are able to conduct full decision-making. Essentially, the ones you leave behind will remember you all the better for it.
Housing for Mom or Dad are easy to find with Golden Placements:
Essentially, Golden Placements helps you manage resources and takes care of the leg work for finding your best living situation so you can enjoy your best Golden Years. In addition, GPS has ideas gathered over years of experience by being Senior Life Specialists. Portland Senior Living and their various options from our Golden Girls specialists are IS NO COST. Community living and finding the right living choice for you or your loved one is important. We help you navigate the details. To conclude, here are more resources to help you learn more about our services:
- You can call us today or continue to read more about Long Term Care Planning with our friends at ACL
- Oregon Defines and Describes ADLs for us legally here: Long Term Care
- Golden Placements RESOURCES to find CARE Services
- Quality locations for you Senior Loved One with the Golden Girls
- Senior Living Near Me – Adult Home Placement
- Explore Residential Care Homes for Elderly “near me”
Diane Delaney, Placement Specialist Extraordinaire
Delaney is the founder of Golden Placement Services. She began this business with a healthy dose of compassion for helping families make educated decisions regarding senior placement. Focused to relieve stress in uncertain senior housing crucial moments. Diane brings about loving change of lifestyle with grace. Additionally, Diane is an accomplished executive manager, Director of Operations in senior housing. Emphatically, she enjoys sharing her experience. Diane enjoys writing about the full spectrum of the transition process for seniors and family members. Read more from Senior Placement Specialist Diane: Ultimate Senior Living Resource Guide >>
LaVona Tomberlin, Senior Placement Specialist
Tomberlin brings a high level of education and experience to you as your Senior Placement Specialist at GPS. She loves writing about improving the lives of Elderly working in private care and in-home care for over 36 years. Geriatrics, Memory Care. In addition, she holds Master of Psychology Behavioral Health with the goal of advocating for those who needed a voice. Basically, LaVona believes helping the families make good decisions. She can help relieve stress in uncertain times making life worthwhile! Learn More: Read articles from Placement Specialist LaVona: End of Life Transition a heart felt Guide >>
