Published on 09/24/2007

Funeral costs are a worrisome expense for many families. In the case of a sudden or unexpected death, the surviving spouse or children may find themselves struggling to pay for the coffin, services, and burial or cremation. There are several options to handle your funeral expenses, and ways to reduce these costs. You may want to consider putting some thought and discussion into making these arrangements, or expressing your wishes with your loved ones before the time comes.

Reducing your Final Expenses

Obviously, money may not be your first concern when planning your own funeral or when in the unfortunate position of making final arrangements for a loved one. Religious beliefs, personal preferences and more may all impact your plans.

What are your options? Some people simply choose to buy adequate life insurance to pay for a traditional funeral or to visit their preferred funeral home and make all their arrangements before they are needed. While this is a viable solution, and one very well suited to those who both prefer a more formal, ceremonial or traditional funeral and burial, there are alternative options. Many people may find that they lack the funds for a large funeral and burial, or that it may not suit their personal beliefs surrounding death and the culture of death.

Regardless of your preferences regarding cremation or burial and funeral services, you can still save on these inevitable expenses. Talk about preferences, your own and your family members. Knowing that someone prefers a simple cremation and perhaps a family dinner will make it easier to make appropriate arrangements. Take the time to know your rights, and even to shop around (ideally by phone). The Federal Trade Commission offers some helpful advice regarding funeral expenses at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/services/funeral.shtm.

While the ceremony may be important to you for closure, consider choosing a lower priced casket for your loved one if there will be a viewing. In the case of a cremation, you may want to opt for a memorial service without the remains present. This also allows for direct cremation at a much lower cost. Direct burial, while less common, is also more affordable. Some of the costs of the funeral are typically related to embalming, and both direct cremation and direct burial will allow you to avoid those expenses.

Some people opt for a graveside service in lieu of one in the funeral home chapel to save. If you or your loved one is a church member, your church may offer the option of having a memorial service there. You could also consider a memorial in your home, a local park, or even a favorite restaurant.

While a lavish viewing and funeral has become traditional in America today, you may want to take a more frugal path. Many times, your loved one would prefer to see their money used for family needs, as opposed to a high-end casket. Talk freely and openly with your loved ones about your wishes and theirs so that you can all move forward aware of each others funeral preferences. Choosing a simpler, and even a more personal and relevant approach to funeral planning, can allow you the closure you need during a time of grief, and spare you the stress of massive expenses.