Funeral Costs and Expenses: How to Keep Them Under Control

The death of a family member is a sad occasion for many families. Living family members have to take care of funeral arrangements and this comes with some financial pressure.

Image: flickr.com/photos/martinaphotography

A life insurance plan can help cover some of the costs of the funeral, which is helpful for surviving members of the family. However, not everyone is covered by a life insurance plan and in such cases, remaining family members will have to deal with the expenses of the funeral, on top of their insurmountable grief.

Costs can be quite considerable. In the U.S., the average cost of a funeral is almost $6,600 plus another $3,000 for the gravesite. In the U.K., the average cost of a funeral is close to 7,700 sterling pounds and that includes the 3,500 sterling pounds cost for a typical funeral, flowers, catering, and estate administration costs, according to the Daily Mail. Costs in Thailand can be just as expensive, with rates going for as high as 100,000 baht to around 150,000 baht.

Wherever part of the world you may be, the cost for a funeral can be quite high and without help from a life insurance, families may find it too hefty a burden, especially if they already had to deal with medical expenses prior to the death.

Thankfully, there are some ways to help keep costs down. Here are a few ideas:

Shop around and ask for prices from different funeral homes.

Don’t just go with the funeral home recommended by the hospital or the one nearest your location. There are probably other funeral homes in the area and you may be able to find a funeral home that offers all services the decedent specified in his last wish without you having to pay too much. You may be able to save thousands of dollars if you compare prices from several funeral homes. Smaller, independent firms often charge less.

Get a complete picture of the costs.

When it comes time to ask about the costs from a funeral home, find one with options for more affordable casket models. There shouldn’t be any surprises when they bill you after the funeral and they need to be upfront with their prices.

Cremation is a much more affordable option than a traditional burial.

Cremating the deceased can be a much more affordable option compared to a traditional burial. Cremation can cost as much as half that of a traditional burial. With cremation, there’s no longer any need to buy a casket and an urn—even the best ones—can cost very little, compared to how much a well-made, high-end casket can run up to.

Also shop around for food services.

Catering adds to the cost of a funeral. However, you can shop around for affordable food services or even do away with food services and just serve food you bought from the grocery such as biscuits and other food items. You can also serve brewed coffee from a coffeemaker along with that.

Be creative with where to hold the wake.

Funeral homes are not the only option. The local chapel may also have facilities wherein you can hold the wake—so ask. They may provide better rates.

The cost of a funeral can be quite high and taking steps to keep the costs down is a great way to make sure you don’t have to dip into your savings or take out a personal loan just to hold a funeral service for someone you love.


About the Author:
This article is contributed by MoneyMax, Philippines leading comparison website. This portal helps individuals in saving money by comparing credit cards, personal loans, insurance and broadband plans.