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The changing of the guard has to come for all of us at some point. We have to say goodbye to our loved ones, whether we’re losing a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, or otherwise. Or perhaps you might be thinking about what happens when you’re the one on the way out. We want the way we remember a loved one to be respectful, but we want to make sure that they don’t land us in debt as well. Here are a few tips on how you can ensure that balance.
Don’t pay more than you need for a funeral service
It’s worth taking the time to research the various kinds of funeral services that are on offer, as well as the funeral directors who might be available in your area. If your loved one leaves explicit wishes and some help to cover the costs, that can simplify things. Otherwise, you should not assume that the traditional full-service burial including the open-casket memorial is exactly what they would have wanted. A direct burial, or making a funeral service of your own, such as a wake at your home, can be a lot more affordable.
Consider whether you really need embalming
If you want to have a viewing or an open-casket memorial, then embalming is going to be worth the cost simply to keep things respectful and to preserve the dignity of a loved one. However, if you’re not having such a viewing, this can be a significant additional cost you might not need. However, it’s worth noting that is often considered a default cost, so you might have to mention specifically to your funeral service provider that you do not want one. If you’re opting for a direct burial on, indeed, a cremation, there may be no need for one, at all.
Shop around for the casket and headstone
When you’re choosing a burial service of some kind, you are very likely to require both a casket and a headstone. However, buying them all at the same place where you are getting your service could end up costing you more than you might expect. Some funeral directors can be pushy and can highlight the benefits of working with them only, instead of having to go to different vendors. That can be a benefit, especially to those who are finding the affair of managing a funeral stressful. However, in most cases, when it comes to saving money, shopping around is likely going to save you money. You might also want to consider opting for a simpler choice for both. There’s something to be said for an overly ornate casket not always being a necessary use of money.
Think about cremation
As we’ve already mentioned, cremation is an option. Not only might it be more in keeping with the wishes or wants of your loved one, even if they didn’t get to express them formally, but it’s also typically a good deal less expensive than a burial. There are a lot of reasons that some people prefer cremation over burials. For instance, it’s better for the environment. It doesn’t require you to pick out a plot of land. And it allows you to have a full-service memorial without needing to pay for the costs of housing the person, embalming, and the like.
Choose your own urn
If you buy an urn from the director who is managing the cremation, then you run into the same risks as getting the headstone and casket from the funeral director who is managing a burial. You get some convenience, but you might not get the best price for the product you’re paying for. You can find all kinds of options, including wooden urns from Memorials.com, that might be a lot more affordable than what your funeral service provider has to offer. If you’re planning to scatter the ashes of your loved one, you do not need to opt for an expensive or fancy urn at all, simply something to help you carry out their wishes. Otherwise, as with anything else, shopping around is always likely to yield you a better deal than going to one provider for everything.
Stay on top of the costs of transport
Different traditions and certain religions may have methods they prefer when it comes to transporting a loved one, such as renting a hearse for the occasion, with others following on foot. That said, you also have to consider things like those who might have to get a car to the site of the service, as well as parking space for them. In most cases, keeping money aside to hire taxis for the purpose is going to be fine, and you are likely to have family members who have space in their car for another. Most of your guests will work out their own transportation, but if you need to rent any vehicles, then you should make sure to factor that into your budget as one of the most important costs.
Consider inviting close friends and family only
When you’re organizing a wake, memorial service, or any kind of respectful gathering, there’s always the opportunity to organize a large part of it yourself, without a need for any funeral director or the help of another venue. You might not need as much help to carry it all out if you’re willing to keep it on the more intimate side. To that end, you might want to consider keeping the funeral small, and only inviting friends and family for one part of it, while allowing others to join a remembrance at a later time, such as after the burial or cremation. You do want to take into account the feelings of any who might be left out, however. It should be done with empathy and forethought.
Most can agree that funerals are more expensive than they need to be. At the same time, we want to honor our loved ones which often means paying up. The tips above can help you find a balance between those two needs.
