Recent data shows that the average cost of a funeral is over six thousand dollars—and rising. Funerals are a major event in all our lives just as weddings and graduations. Like these other ceremonies, however, funerals are also big business. That is why planning a funeral on a budget is something we all need to know how to do.
The good news is that the government is on our side when it comes to getting a fair price from funeral homes and directors. It requires all homes to provide a written price list even before you begin your initial consultations. That allows you, the consumer, to collect prices from several different homes and figure out what works best financially as well as mentally and emotionally. Take the time to shop defensively when you are planning a funeral and don’t allow yourself to be taken advantage of by a home that refuses to provide prices or to offer simpler funerary options like direct cremation or burial. Remember that for these people, this funeral is a business transaction and they may try to take advantage of an emotionally challenging time to earn a profit.
Remember that you do not have to give anything up to plan a funeral on a budget. You just need to commit to doing things your way—making yourself and your family happy rather than worrying about anyone else. That is why more and more people are planning services that take place not at a funeral home with a funeral director, but at a family home or another meaningful location. In this way, the services become a way to personally express love and grief without the interpretive factor of a third party—and without the addition of a hefty price tag. Whether you plan this funeral personally or purchase a funeral insurance package and allow someone to ease you through the process, take the time to make it yours. You’ll find that neither the budget nor your emotions will suffer in the long run.
