How to Save Money on Funeral Costs
Arranging funerals are taxing in more ways than one. Apart from the emotional rollercoaster you may find yourself in, you also have to think about the finances involved. Since not everyone has the luxury of not being money conscious, how we spend for our loved one’s funeral may either help or stress us out more.
The fact is funerals don’t have to be extravagant. Sometimes, we end up feeling pressured that we have to impress the guests who are coming. However, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a competition. You are doing your best to celebrate the life lived by the departed. Any effort you exert counts a lot.
That being said, it is still ideal to learn how to save money on funerals. So below, we’ve gathered useful tips to cut back on funeral costs and hopefully, help alleviate the burden you’re feeling.
Shop in advance
Death and funerals are a hard topic to discuss. However, talking about it will save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Whether it’s you or someone you love, it’s best to shop in advance, as costs can vary and increase quickly than imagined.
When you also talk about it with your loved ones, you already have an idea what this person wants for his or her funeral. This way, you don’t have to spend too much. So as early as now, shop around and talk with different funeral homes. Save your loved ones the stress and ease their burden.
Hold firm to your budget
It’s easy for us to go through emotional spending considering the tragedy we’re dealing with. However, the last thing you want is burdening yourself even more with piles of bills to pay after the occasion. As early as now, talk about how much you’re willing to spend and stick to it.
Again, funerals aren’t a competition. At the end of it all, it is still the thought that counts.
Go to more than one funeral home
The very first thing you need to remember is that funerals are businesses. Funeral homes have various rates, packages and services that at the end of it, they seek to make profit from. The best thing you can do is to widen your options.
Don’t stick to the first funeral home you get in touch with. Take the time to compare prices and packages. Find various homes that will help you decide which is best for your beloved departed and for your family. It also won’t hurt asking for bargains and discounts, as these proper funeral homes would be more than happy to aid in any way.
Don’t purchase everything from the home
A common misunderstanding is that families need to avail of all the packages and products directly from one funeral home. In fact, you can only purchase specific products and services that you feel you need. When there are other things that you find are out of your budget, you can do away with that and find other sources that will offer it for a better price.
Check online for prices of caskets, urns and others. There are tons that are being sold in friendlier prices but comes with high quality.
Skip the funeral director
Some families also believe that you need a funeral director to arrange a funeral. However, it’s not always the case. More and more are arranging the funerals themselves, doing it on their own to help them cut costs and make the service a lot more personal.
So if you are working with a limited budget, you can always skip hiring a funeral director. All the resources you need as well as words of advise you can find online or with the help of your friends and family. Consider a home funeral instead where everyone will be involved and help to make the service more thoughtful. Remember, you don’t have to carry this burden alone. A lot of people are more than willing to help you out in any way.
Bring someone with you
Like what we mentioned before, people are prone to emotional overspending when they lost someone near and dear to them. You may not feel it now but in the near future, you might find that you have spend a lot more than you should have.
The next best thing is to take along with you a friend or a family member who can help you make sound decisions. Let this person help you say no and select more affordable items. You can even pass on this responsibility to someone you fully trust. This way, you won’t regret making rash decisions.
