Planning the funeral of someone near and dear to you can be an emotionally and mentally taxing task.
On top of this, managing all the expenses incurred at a funeral can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
When you receive support from affordable funeral services, however, you open the door to a way to pay your final respects to your loved one the way you wish, while taking some of the burden off your shoulders.
Here are some ways you can make a funeral service more affordable without compromising the sentiment you wish to convey.
Choosing an Affordable Funeral Home
While most funeral homes offer similar services, the cost of these services often differs.
To find affordable funeral services, you can communicate with some of the service providers in your area and compare prices.
Here, it’s necessary to ask about the cost of different types of services. Cremation is more cost-effective than burials, so you may choose to ask the funeral home about their funeral costs and pricing.
In a direct cremation—which is the least expensive option—there’s no embalming or formal viewing option. It includes only the essentials like transporting the deceased, completing the required paperwork, cremation, and giving the ashes to the family.
On the other hand, a traditional cremation includes all the customary rites like embalming, dressing the body, and preparing the body for the funeral service, which means it is more costly than direct cremation.
Choosing a funeral home that provides all-inclusive funeral arrangements can help you plan more affordable funeral services. You’ll get all the services needed—transporting the body, overseeing the service, and planning a memorial—at a much more affordable price.
Once you have an understanding of the prices charged by each funeral home, and the services they provide, you can choose the right funeral planners to work with.
Choosing a coffin, casket, or an urn
While you have the option of purchasing these necessities from an external provider or creating personalized items, today, funeral homes provide most of these funeral necessities and help you with your funeral accessories.
Communicating with your funeral home can help you purchase the most suitable items in a much more direct and affordable way.
For example, different types of caskets have different costs and your funeral planner can direct you to the best casket options they provide.
Wooden caskets tend to cost less than metal caskets, ranging from an estimated $2,000 to $5,000. If you’re opting for a burial, a green casket or a biodegradable casket is one of the more cost-effective options to choose from.
The cost of urns is also similarly determined. Biodegradable urns made of materials like clay, compost, or paper cost less than other types of urns.
If you wish to purchase indoor urns, a metal urn may be right for you and are often more affordable than urns made of glass, ceramic, or stone.
Choosing a memorial service
To make it easier for the family, most funeral homes include memorial planning in their funeral arrangements.
Comparing venues and considering alternative options for the service can help keep your memorial service on a budget.
For example, venues like churches, chapels, and community centers often have affordable venue rental fees. In addition, if you are a member of a church or association, you can choose the venue for a small fee.
Other alternative venue ideas for more affordable funeral services include public parks or family homes—many choose a large home or a home with a large yard.
Opting for a funeral service provider who can help you through the memorial planning—including memorial document printing and overseeing the process—can be much cheaper than choosing different services from different providers.
Affordable funeral services make funeral arrangements easier for family members
Today, there are many options when you’re planning a funeral that honors your loved ones—from getting personalized caskets to choosing the right venue for a life commemoration.
Remember, however, that the most sentimental service doesn’t need to take complex, financially draining plans. Simple and affordable services that are customized according to the wishes of the deceased and their family is all you need to make a goodbye meaningful and heartfelt.
