If you have a loved one who just passed away, and you are in charge of the funeral arrangements but are a little short on money, here are a few ways that you can save money on expenses while still arranging a respectful and beautiful funeral for your loved one.
#1: Purchase an Inexpensive Casket
One of the best ways to save money on funeral expenses is by opting for a less expensive casket. A fancy casket is really not necessary; it looks beautiful for the people attending the funeral to look at, but once your loved one is buried in their plot, you are never going to see the casket again.
If you want a metal casket, choose the least expensive option that you can. If you don't care about what type of material is used, the least expensive type of caskets you can purchase are made out of either heavy-duty cardboard or fiberboard. These caskets look they are made out of wood because they are covered with contact paper that look like solid and more sturdy wood. This is a great way to reduce your overall funeral costs. Your loved one's body will still be protected if you bury them in an inexpensive casket.
#2: Limit the Visitation Period
Next, consider limiting the visitation period. If you feel the need to have a visitation for your loved one, make the visitation period short. For example, you could hold the visitation for two hours in advance of the funeral instead of during the entire day or the day before. This will require you to spend less money on the funeral home; you should be able to save some money by shortening the visitation period.
If visitations are not that important in your culture or your religion, you can skip the formal visitation before the funeral and just let people know that if they want time alone with your loved one, they should show up a little early before the formal funeral is scheduled to begin, such as an hour before the funeral.
#3: Limit Who Can Attend the Burial
Finally, you can further save costs by limiting who can attend the burial. For example, you can have only close family and friends attend the burial. That way, you will not have to rent as many chairs for the burial. You can also have a very simple burial after the funeral during which you have everyone stand during the burial procedure. This way, you can just bring some chairs from home for those who need them, such as an elderly parent. You can also have a family member preside over the burial process instead of a formal clergy person.
For more about this topic, talk to a local funeral director.
Share16 December 2016
A couple of weeks ago, one of my dear family friend’s suffered the loss of her husband. After a brief illness, he passed away at a local hospital. Immediately after his passing, she started planning the funeral arrangements. She didn’t want his funeral to be a sad occasion. Instead, she wanted the service to celebrate his amazing life. She worked tirelessly with the professional staff at a local funeral home in order to plan the order and type of service for the funeral. On this blog, you will discover tips for planning a funeral service that will celebrate the life of your deceased loved one.