Planning a Cost-Effective Funeral Without Compromises
Death, like taxes, is one of those things that you just can’t avoid. Unlike death though, an expensive burial and the impact it can have on the loved ones you leave behind is entirely avoidable.
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 the deceased) and the needs of your bereft friends and family without wiping out your life’s savings or forcing an unexpected, unplanned for burden on your loved ones.
1 – Shop for Services and Products in Advance
First things first — you have to 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. 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.
2 – Skip the Embalming if You Can
In many states, embalming is not required. 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 – 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.
4 – 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.
5 – 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.
6 – Skip the Service or Have the Funeral at Home or Al Fresco
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.
7 – 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. In some cases, families are actually compensated in some way for donating a body to science.
8 – Choose a Burial on Your Family’s Land
In some states, it is legal to prepare the body at home and to bury or cremate it on private land. Check with your local and state government for your area regulations.
9 – 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 one.
10 – Pay for the Funeral Services in Advance
In some cases, you can secure a significant savings by making arrangements and paying for the funeral services well in advance. Very little in this life gets less expensive as time goes on, so why not consider locking in a lower price by paying in advance.
Save Loved Ones Additional Decision Making in Their Time of Grief
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, and take advantage of the time when you are afforded the luxury of careful planning and decision-making. The ones you leave behind may remember you all the better for it.
