Planning Ahead for Funerals

The funeral plans that people make for themselves while living. Their primary objectives in planning ahead are to relieve their survivors of this burden and to ensure that the funeral is carried out according to their wishes.

Funerals - Planning Ahead to Take Care of Your Needs
By Jeffrey Meier

No one ever knows when that fateful day will come and you die. Many things must be done after a death including planning the funeral. People many times have nothing in place and they put the burden on their loved ones to make the plans. This is sometimes very hard as they are dealing with the grief of the loss and must make rational decisions at the same time. Having things already planned out is an easier way to go about it and let's look at some ways to do that.


Photo: canada.com

First and foremost funerals have really changed over the years as more funeral directors have come up with different ways to do things. Getting away from the traditional funeral seems something more of us want to do. One of the first decisions you will have to do is decide how you want to celebrate the ending of your life. Many people prefer a subdued type of service where others like to see happy times celebrating that person's life. The second thing is do you want to be cremated or have an open casket funeral. More and more people are being cremated as the costs are much lower and this lets people keep a part of the person with them after they die. Others prefer the other option and go with that.

Another very important thing that is always associated with funerals is the actual service. Some people want the service with their favorite pastor while more people than ever before have friends and family talk about the loved one who have just passed away. It's an individual thing, but it's something that you need to plan ahead for. Funerals are getting quite expensive with many costing more than 10,000 dollars. Keeping these expenses down is something funeral directors have been working on for many years now Prepayment arrangements and preplanning is something they are big advocates of. Today many of them will let you lock in today's prices if you buy now and not wait until you pass away. This could save you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Preplanning makes it much easier on everyone involved from the funeral directors to people who help take care of the arrangements after someone passes. Funerals are a way celebrates someone's life and what they meant to us. If you're not sure about preplanning is right, for you there is another option that you should consider. Many funeral directors have literature that will help you make the best decision possible for your current situation. This way before you make any type of preplanning arrangement you will know exactly how it works. They can also answer any questions you have about the process.

One thing that more people are starting to understand that death comes to us all eventually and they don't want to put any added burdens on others dealing with funeral arrangements. Funerals can take many different paths, but the one that is the easiest for everyone is the one that has already been planned. It gives people peace of mind and they can look back on a person's life without having to worry about the planning process. This is why planning the funeral is becoming a necessity anymore. Give yourself and your loved ones the peace of mind they deserve get yours planned out today so they can celebrate your life when that time comes.

Jeffrey Meier at Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.thearticlehome.com/ blog offers even more detailed information on a wide variety of topics.

Term Life Insurance

How Much Term Life Insurance Should I Buy?
By Sharon Taylor

Term life insurance is an important part of the financial planning process. It serves to provide financially for all of the loved ones in your family should you happen to pass away unexpectedly. But one of the important things that people do not put enough consideration into is how much coverage is actually enough. When looking at term life insurance quotes, how can you determine how much is actually going to be needed by your family, if they no longer have you there to depend on? When shopping around for quotes, consider the following information so that you may make the right, informed decisions.




Identifying the Basics of Term Life Insurance
The first thing that you need to remember is that the main purpose of term life insurance is to completely circumvent all financial stress in the event of your death, which means the foremost purpose of your term life insurance policy should be income replacement to protect your family. With that having been said, it is now important for you to understand how your lost salary will impact your loved ones if you pass away.

Make a list including how much money is spent on daily expenses, elderly family care, childcare, education, food, clothing, the mortgage, car or other vehicle payments, various forms of debt including loans and credit cards.

Now you should consider the costs for your last expenses, such as your funeral, burial and any necessary medical or hospital costs. Funerals can easily cost several thousands of dollars and this doesn't even include any special requests or additional charges that may come up.

You must also consider your long-term expenses when researching term life insurance, including college tuitions, mortgage payments and a retirement fund for your spouse. If you want to leave any funds to local charities or organizations, this is also where those types of financial contributions would factor in.

Next you should determine your assets, since you have already determined your financial needs and the financial needs of your loved ones. Factor in all of your current assets, including cash, stocks, savings, bonds, pension, social security and real estate. Subtract your assets from your expenses to figure out how much life insurance are you going to need to purchase in order to ensure that your family is financially comfortable following your death.

What's next?
Now that you have a good idea of how much you are going to need, you should begin to shop around by looking at different term life insurance quotes to find out how much a policy is going to cost you. Make a point to sit down with a licensed term life insurance professional and they can walk you through the entire process.

It is extremely important that you take the time to do some homework when it comes to purchasing term life insurance, making sure you don't purchase coverage that is not needed or possibly purchasing too little coverage. Researching your insurance needs before hand will ensure that your family is safe and protected even if you pass away unexpectedly.

Sharon Taylor is a professional writer for eQUOTE Life Insurance eQUOTE is an excellent online resource providing online quotes for term life insurance to families in 42 states.

Planning a Trip and Enjoying

Planning a Trip and Enjoying Your Holiday - A Travel Check List
By Patrick Chong

Common wisdom tells us that a death of a loved one and moving house are the two most stressful events a person can go through in the modern world. Not being an estate agent or a funeral director, I can't really comment on either of these - but I do feel qualified to discuss another stressful area - planning a trip and preparing to go on holiday.





It's ironic that a period of the year designed to promote rest and relaxation can actually be the cause of the most stress and strain present for the entire year. Things are usually completed in a rush, there is a lot to organise and there's packing time to consider - and that's not even taking into account the stress families will go through looking after the kids during all of this! For this reason, I've written a useful holiday check list to ensure you don't miss any of the small things which have a tendency to turn into bigger problems while you're away.

Simply work through my holiday check list and travel with peace of mind:

Before you go (planning your trip)

• Always make sure you have full travel insurance, fit for the purpose of your trip and if you have an annual policy - check that it is still valid. Sometimes people who have purchased annual travel insurance forget to renew it, and assume they are covered whenever they wish to leave the country. Checking your travel insurance is right for the task can save you a lot of stress and tears in the long run, should the worst happen. It is also essential that you make your travel insurance company aware of any pre existing medical condition you have before you travel - although it may increase your costs in the short term, you may find yourself without cover if you later need to claim on such an illness without having warned them of it!
• If you're traveling within the European economic region, or in Switzerland, you should get a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It's a common misconception that this is as good as travel insurance for giving you free health care, but it can entitle you to reduced costs, meaning you are not left out of pocket while you wait to be reimbursed on your policy.
• When planning a trip, make sure the vaccinations for both you and your family are up to date - especially if you're travelling outside of Europe. Your health care provider can advise you of any additional vaccinations you'll need depending on where you're going.
• Fill in the contact details at the back of your passport for the next of kin, or the details of someone who can be contacted in case of an emergency.
• Make sure you are aware of the immigration and custom laws of the country you are travelling to when planning a trip. A visa may take a little time to come through, so be prepared and allow enough time to complete this procedure. Also you should note that in many countries your passport needs to be valid for at least six months after the date you travel, so check this in advance.
• Tell someone where you are going and when they should expect you back. Try to leave an itinerary and details of where you may be able to be contacted during your time abroad, in case of emergency.
• If you are planning on driving in foreign climes, take your full driving licence with you. Make sure you are aware of the driving laws, licence requirements and driving conditions of your destination before you set off.

When you are there

• Be aware of security and take sensible precautions. If an area is advised against travelling to, the chances are there's a good reason for it!
• Keep a note of the local embassy, high commission or consulate number. Although the chances are you will not need it, it's always worth holding on to in the case of emergency.
• Stay in regular contact with your family and friends, especially if you are travelling alone. This will ensure they're always aware of where you are and should be, and can ensure they can contact you in the case of emergency.
• Respect local customs and behave and dress appropriately. Although unlikely to cause disastrous problems, as a guest in a foreign culture, it's only polite to try and fit in.
  

On return

• Inform family and friends of your safe return, to end their worries and ensure no bogus emergency calls are made.
• If you need to make any claims against your travel insurance make sure this is done at the earliest opportunity, for maximum chance of getting a positive result.

I hope this travel check list has been helpful. Although planning a trip in this much detail may seem like a lot of hassle, dotting all the 'I's and crossing all the 'T's, it really is worth doing. In the end, following this holiday check list to the letter will ensure you are more relaxed and prepared to enjoy your holiday, and should the worst happen you'll be well equipped to deal with it.

Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Journey's Travel. Their commercial travel insurance website, Insuremore, offers cheap travel insurance packages for families, singles, children and skiers with free cover against acts of terrorism and a quick and easy online claims feature.

Thank You Notes For a Funeral

Writing a thank you note is tricky enough, but even harder is mastering the art of sending a sympathy card. Still, writing a formal sympathy note to a friend who has lost someone close to her whether you are attending the funeral or not is a gesture that's always appreciated.



Source: dearsugar.com

How to Write "Thank You" Notes For a Funeral
By Lisa T

Writing thank you notes can be difficult for many people, since it is something that is not usually done everyday. Most thank you notes are written to acknowledge a gift given for a happy occasions like weddings, baby showers, birthday parties and such, however when it comes to showing gratitude for sympathy sentiments, the right words may be hard to find.

You may think, "This is such a difficult time, is it really necessary? Although it may be a hard thing to do, it is proper - and possibly therapeutic for some. If you are not sure who to send cards to, or what you should say, consider the following as a guide to writing thank you notes for funerals.

It is not necessary to send a thank you to each individual that attended the funeral services and it is usually not expected. You should acknowledge those who expressed their sympathies above and beyond visitation, such as sending flowers, making a donation to charity in the deceased's name, delivering food to the home, sending Mass cards, or handwritten condolences.

In addition to thanking people that expressed their sympathy, thank you notes should be sent to those who took part in the service or funeral, such as anyone who spoke at the service, clergy, pallbearers, and drivers.

Also sending a note to the funeral home, especially if they were extra helpful to you, is always appreciated. Due to their experience, they often provide guidance and support in areas that family is unable to do.

Thank you notes should be handwritten and mailed within a few weeks of the funeral. If you are not up to sending thank you notes that soon, consider enlisting the help of another family member or friend will help to lessen the burden.

Blank note cards or good quality stationery with matching envelopes are acceptable for writing the notes. Some funeral homes offer note cards as one of their services. If you are using pre-printed cards, you should write an additional sentence or two, for personalization.

If you are not sure what to say, start by acknowledging the particular sentiment, whether it was a flower arrangement, particular type of flower or bouquet. If it was food, even if you didn't personally eat it, thank them just for giving it. For money, which can be a little unusual and awkward, express your gratitude for their generosity during this difficult time.

Something as simple as, "Thank you for your expression of sympathy at this difficult time," will suffice for some notes.

Other ideas include thanking them for coming and letting them know how much their presence meant to you and your family; or if they are especially close, mention how much it meant to you that they were there for you and your family and how they have always shared in good and bad times. A nice touch would be to recall a memory of how that person touched the deceased's life.

Visit Sympathy Sentiments site and Blog for more help and resources on the subject of death and loss.

Fneral director

Funeral director is someone involved in the business of funeral rites. The job often entails the burial or cremation of the dead, as well as the planning and arrangement of the actual funeral ceremony.

Funeral Home Selection - Advice From A Licensed Funeral Directr
By Jerry R. Guy

Funeral home selection is obviously the first step and a vital part of funeral planning. Depending on where you live, this is sometimes predetermined for a family simply due to demographics or a family's longtime relationship with a particular firm. In more rural areas you may have only one or two facilities to choose from. Most larger metropolitan areas are usually served by multiple facilities offering vast choices and prices.



Photo: zaphoduk.com

ive in or near an area that has several funeral homes, I suggest you do some "comparison shopping" before you make a commitment. If your unfamiliar with the firms in your area, ask friends or other family members for recommendations. I advise calling three funeral homes (or at least two!) with questions about services desired and related costs. Beware,you may be shocked by the variation in prices and services offered.

It is not uncommon for people to be hesitate to call a funeral home and ask questions related to funeral planning, but they don't need to be. The Federal Trade Commission's "Funeral Rule" now mandates that all funeral facilities provide service and price information over the phone. Remember, reputable firms will always be happy to answer your questions over the phone. I would suggest avoiding any facility that is unwilling to provide this information to you.

This proactive approach to funeral planning will give you peace of mind and should go a long way in helping you to make sure you have made the right funeral home selection.

Jerry R. Guy is an active licensed funeral director and author. More information on how to save money planning funeral services can be found at his sites: http://www.integritypreneedsolutions.com/ or http://www.beforeplanningafuneral.com/