It’s no secret the price of funerals is extortionate with more and more families struggling to give a loved one the send-off they deserve. The average funeral cost now stands at £3,456, having risen 80% since 2004, once the extras have been included this final price can be in excess of £5,000. Here’s a little insight into how you can lower the cost of your funeral.
Cut out the fancy stuff
Opt for a ‘basic funeral’ where the funeral directors collect the deceased, place them in a budget coffin and they are cremated when there is a free spot at the crematorium. There is no option for a viewing or ceremony if the basic option is picked. However you have to factor in the costs of the ashes being returned or if the deceased needs picked up outside of normal working hours or from a nursing home.
Tips for money saving
If you want to host a formal ceremony and gathering afterwards then there are some other cost cutting tips you could take into consideration.
- Opt for a cheaper coffin, you could purchase a budget coffin direct from the supplier or build your own and miss out the funeral director it will save you a lot of money to use elsewhere. Alternatively, you may opt for cremation services.
- If you are using a funeral director you should negotiate at the beginning how many times they will be visiting the deceased as with these visits comes higher costs. For traditional funerals like Asian funerals, you may look for a funeral director that can work with your budget without compromising the cultural traditions of the deceased.
- Flowers are also not necessary and very expensive, perhaps you could use flowers out of your garden to add a more personal touch.
- The headstone is a massive cost that can be avoided if you opt for a natural burial where a shrubs or a tree are planted in memory of the deceased instead.
- The venue and transport should also be looked at in detail, you don’t have to use the crematorium or chapel – the ceremony could be held at home or in a cheaper function area. For transport, your own vehicles can be used – coffins can be transported in estate cars or vans.
Plan ahead
This is also another very cost effective way of saving money in the future. A pre-paid cremation or funeral plan means that you can pay up the cost in advance and family members will not be burdened by a large invoice after you are gone. Most funeral plan providers state that the funeral costs are today’s current prices and since funeral costs are on the rise this can only be saving money as well as ensuring all your wishes are fulfilled. Ask them how much cremation services, planning, etc., would cost.
DIY
There is no law stating that you need to use a funeral director to carry out a funeral, which means that the ceremony can be carried out yourself or a relative. It’s important to get the help of family as there can be a lot to do and organised and usually many people are willing to help. Sometimes even funeral directors can help on the tricky parts such as keeping the body of the deceased cool (or you can even do that yourself) or helping with complicated paperwork. Shopping around, making phone calls and researching is the way to host a funeral at low cost.
