Losing a loved one can be a difficult time for any family. The stress involved in dealing with grief oftentimes make it hard to make funeral arrangements objectively. As a result, some families spend more than they need to. The added expense of funeral arrangements should not be a burden to grieving families. How can you make affordable funeral arrangements without cutting corners, and still give your loved one a dignified and solemn send-off? Here are six ways to save money on funeral costs without sacrificing the memorial’s quality.

1. Compare funeral home pricing. During difficult times, it is easy to forego this step and choose whatever is available. However, comparing prices can make a huge difference in the overall cost of the funeral. These days, there are websites that allow you to compare prices online. Your Funeral Choice is one example of a website where you can search via postcode for all available funeral directors in your area.

1. Consider an alternate venue for the memorial. When you avail of the services of a funeral home for the arrangements, it does not necessarily mean that you have to use their facilities for the wake and memorial. If you can find an alternate venue such as the church you attend or a meeting place, you could pay less for the venue or you might even use it for free.

1. Ask for discounted packages. The first thing you need to do when checking for funeral services is to see if there are packages or bundled services. This is especially helpful if you plan a funeral in advance or have the opportunity to pre-pay funeral services before it becomes necessary.

1. Opt for a simpler service. The funeral does not have to be extravagant. It can be simple and intimate where you can honour your loved one without having to pay too much.

1. Consider the direct burial option. This certainly depends on whether your family is willing to embrace the idea of foregoing a viewing. With a direct burial, you can bury the deceased in a simple casket where there is no need for embalming and dressing.

1. Consider other options such as cremation. A majority of funeral costs go to the purchase of a funeral plot and casket. Many people today find traditional burial methods too expensive. As such, more families are choosing cremation as a more cost-effective option to honour a deceased family member. Cremation is in fact widely used in many cultures around the world. Cremation also gives you the option of how you want to remember your loved one. You can keep the urn or scatter the ashes in a meaningful place.

Losing a loved is never a moment that anyone looks forward to. However, funeral services should not put a huge dent in your savings account or put you into unnecessary debt. Preparing early, perhaps by contacting your local funeral plan providers, and carefully looking at options available to you and your family can be another helpful step in reducing the cost of burying a loved one.

 

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