Your funeral is undoubtedly, one of the most expensive events in your life. Despite your passing, you’ll be obliged to pay for your funeral expenses or have your family shoulder the financial responsibility. With that said, if you have a family member who recently passed away and you’re wondering what steps can be taken to mitigate expenses, we’ve compiled some tips for you.
Funeral homes are prescribed by the law to provide you with a list of itemized services and corresponding costs. Making it possible for you to compare the services you’d want to include for funeral packages.
Because of this clear comparison, you’ can choose which service provider offers the most affordable package that jives with the services you’ll want for the deceased.
Funeral homes and memorial service providers can talk you through the flashiest of their caskets, the most expensive displays of flowers and even an elaborate funeral program for the deceased. But, if you have limited resources, try your absolute best to stick with it.
In making a funeral budget, determine the financial capacity for the event. Then, choose which services you’ll need. Lastly, set a price or a financial cost for each service.
Another advantage of having a budget is you’ll be prepared to negotiate. You see, when you don’t have a plan or an identified financial capacity, you’re at the mercy of the funeral homes.
Instead of saying yes to what the funeral homes offer to you, you can discern amount are you willing to work on and the same goes to the funeral home.
If you don’t want to rack up on funeral expenses and would like to have a simple ceremony, a direct cremation is one of the most affordable options. The deceased body is exposed to high temperature transforming it into ashes.
Then, you can keep the ashes on a decorative urn, bury or scatter it at sea. What’s more, instead of having a full-blown memorial service, you can always opt for an intimate and family-only gathering.
If the family decides on having a burial, it is recommended that you choose a simple casket. Let’s face it. Funeral homes will take advantage of your emotional vulnerability and talk you into buying elaborate and flashy caskets. Don’t fall into this trap. Keep the casket simple.
If you don’t want to spend on chapel or memorial services, we recommend conducting the memorial at home. You can plan out the ceremony along with family and friends to remember the deceased and keep the gathering intimate.
Because funeral expenses keep on becoming more expensive, it is best to purchase a prepaid funeral plan that will guarantee a funeral that is of your liking and will save your family from the financial burden.
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