When a loved one passes, we naturally want to give them the best farewell possible. Unfortunately, many of us aren’t in a financial position to splurge out, especially when you factor in that the average funeral cost can reach up to $12,000.
If your loved one hasn’t pre-paid for their funeral, there are lots of tactics you can utilize to keep costs down. Whether you are planning ahead or need urgent advice, here are some creative and economical ways to arrange funeral proceedings on a budget.
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1. Choose a Direct Burial
When planning a funeral, one of the least expensive options to pick from is a direct burial. This is when the body is buried quickly after death, with no visitation or embalming involved.
There aren’t any formal funeral services or a graveside service attached with a direct burial, so you must take this into account, especially if you have family members who want to pay their final respects.
2. Shop Around
Organizing a funeral can be a stressful experience, so it’s wise to call several funeral homes in your area. Each provider should have a general price list that will give you more clarification, especially when working out your finances.
The list must itemize charges, allowing you to accurately compare costs. There are also packaged services you can check out which could work out cheaper.
3. Opt for Cremation
Cremations are usually a cheaper alternative to a burial. In fact, the preference for being cremated in the US is growing year on year. It’s predicted that by 2040, only 15.7% of us will opt for a burial, with the rest of the population choosing a cremation.
If you want to know more about what this involves, consider getting in touch with experienced funeral services like the Baldwin Brothers. You can click here to learn about their cremation packages and prices, cremation code of ethics, and pre-plans that can save you money.
4. Provide Your Own Urn
Crematoriums and funeral homes will usually hand over the cremation ashes (cremains) in a plastic bag within a plastic box. If you decide to scatter your loved one’s ashes, you won’t need an urn.
However, for those that wish to keep the cremains at home, you can use any container or box rather than purchasing an urn from a funeral service.
5. Consider a Home Funeral
Home funerals are becoming increasingly popular in the United States and across the world. Various funeral activities can commence from home, such as hosting a memorial service to prepare the body for burial.
Each family will have different reasons for a home funeral. Whether it’s to feel closer to their loved one or be in an environment that everyone feels familiar with, there is a great deal of money you can save by holding the funeral at home.
While planning a funeral is something many of us would prefer to avoid, you need to take control of the process from start to finish. If you don’t, you could end up needlessly spending thousands of extra dollars.
All the ideas above will not only save you money but ensure your loved one still has a respectful and honorable service.
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Hope this post inspires you and of course, I’d love to know what you think! Let me know in the comments below or find me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and add the hashtag #practicalfrugality so that I can see your post.
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Magdalena
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