3 Tips To Reduce Costs On Your Loved One's Funeral
Posted on: 20 December 2018
Did you recently lose a loved one? If so, this is likely a difficult time for you. You may be struggling with stress, grief, and a wide range of other emotions. You may also be dealing with the complexity and costs of planning the loved one's funeral.
A funeral can be a complicated and costly affair. Your family members may have conflicting ideas of what should be in the funeral. Your loved one may not have left clear instructions on their wishes. You also may be unsure of how you will pay for the services. Funerals can often cost thousands of dollars. If your loved one didn't leave many resources behind, you may have to pay for the service out-of-pocket. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to cut the cost. Below are a few tips to help you keep your loved one's funeral service within budget:
Price shop for a casket. Your funeral home will likely offer a wide range of caskets at various price points. It's possible that their caskets may be the most cost-effective option. However, you may want to take some time to price shop online. You're not obligated to buy the casket from the funeral home, and you may be able to find a more affordable option elsewhere. At the very least, your funeral home may price match any other caskets you find online, and that could save you hundreds of dollars.
Skip the viewing and embalming. It's tradition to have a viewing of the body before the burial. A viewing gives friends and family one last chance to see your loved one. However, it can also add to the bill. There's the cost of renting the facility for another day. There's also the cost of preparing and embalming the body. That can add hundreds or even thousands of dollars to the bill. Instead, consider skipping the viewing, which eliminates the need for embalming and body preparation. You could have a more informal remembrance ceremony with pictures at your home or another location after the burial.
Don't buy a bundled package. Many funeral homes offer various bundled packages that include things like facility rental, burial, body preparation, and even flowers and music. These bundles are helpful because they make the planning process easier. However, you don't have to buy a bundle. You can pick and choose the services that are right for you. For instance, perhaps you can find flowers more affordably elsewhere. Maybe the burial will only be open to family and you don't need an escorted procession. Perhaps you don't need a room the night before for a viewing. Don't be afraid to ask for itemized services rather than a pre-packaged bundle.
Contact a few funeral homes in your area and compare costs. They can help you choose the right services for your needs. Visit a site like http://www.faroneandsoninc.com for more help.
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