Facing Funeral Costs: A Guide For Planning Your Future Funeral
When you initially start making your own funeral arrangements, a good portion of your concerns will likely be about the costs involved. Even though planning your funeral in advance may be one of the most responsible decisions you can make, if you are like most pre-planners, you are not too tickled with the idea of taking on yet another bill. Here are a few of the biggest questions funeral pre-planners tend to have about the costs associated with the process.
Will the entire funeral bill have to be paid for in one lump-sum payment?
You should know that most funeral homes are more than happy to work with customers when it comes to creating a convenient payment plan. So you will not be expected to pay the entire bill when you make the plans and arrangements for your funeral.
How much is the average cost of a funeral?
The average cost of a funeral can vary tremendously depending on the choices you make and even what funeral home you choose to use for your services. However, in general terms, the average cost of a funeral usually comes in at about $7,000.
What are the best ways to bring down the overall cost of the funeral?
There are several ways that you can create a more cost-efficient funeral plan. When you are in the process of making arrangements, never take suggestions from the funeral director as your only option. For example, if the director suggests that you have the visitation one day and the funeral the following day, ask about combining both events into a shorter time frame to save money. A few other ways that you can bring down the total bill include:
- choosing to have a closed-casket funeral
- providing your own burial attire
- shopping around for lower-priced caskets
Is it cheaper to be cremated than it is to be buried the traditional way?
It is much cheaper to be cremated than it is to be buried. You have to keep in mind that being cremated means that you eliminate the need for a casket, metal vault, and a grave plot or headstone. Plus, there will be no charges from the funeral home for transportation in a hearse, and if you choose to have a simple memorial service instead of a funeral, you can save even more. Just the basic cremation without a funeral service will typically only cost somewhere around $1,100.
For more information and advice, talk with funeral homes in your area, such as Pritts Funeral Home & Chapel PA.
