Friday, May 09, 2014
Funeral Planning Money-Saving Tips
An average funeral costs between $9,000 and $15,000. This can be a difficult challenge for the suffering family. It is a good thing a person can plan a meaningful, warm funeral and at the same time stay within the budget. Here are some tips:
1. Ask a friend, a member of your family, or your very own pastor to preside. Using an officiator provided by your funeral home can greatly increase the costs and will also make the funeral a less personal one.
2. Usually, a basic cremation costs between $1,000 to $2,000. Some people do not prefer the basic cremation because it does not allow the decedent's family and friends to spend an ample time with the body to say their goodbyes. But some people may prefer a simple scattering of ashes, while others still want a conventional funeral service for their loved one.
3. Make sure you have enough people to carry the casket (if you're going with a traditional funeral). Otherwise, your funeral home will charge for pallbearers they supply.
4. Limit visitation. Reducing the length of visitation, even for one day, could greatly reduce the overall cost of a funeral. And if the visitation is short, say a couple of days, embalming the body many not be needed. But first check local law about this matter.
5. Consider having the funeral at your own home. A room in a funeral home is rented for each day it's used. You can save a significant amount of money by having the funeral at the decedent's residence. Also, this can allow for a more intimate funeral. To some people, a funeral at home is a religious and/or family tradition. Due to health matters, embalming is needed for home funerals. While it lessens the cost due to rented room in a funeral home, transporting the body should be arranged.
6. Regarding the decedent's clothing, you could just choose from your loved one's closet or buy something that fits him or her. This is a good money-saving tips if you're really in a tight budget.
7. Consider applying for burial benefits. Usually, veterans are given some benefits which apply on their funerals. Contact your local veteran's affairs office to learn about such benefits and how to use them for a funeral.
For more tips to planning a less costly yet decent funeral, just follow the link provided to visit funeral care Perth and check out their quality, less costly funeral services.
