Ways to Save Money on Funeral Expenses

With the average cost of a funeral approaching $8,000, coming up with the money to pay for end of life services can introduce a lot of anxiety during an already emotional time. However, there are several ways to save on funeral expenses while still planning a respectful service for the deceased.

1. Comparison Shopping

According to recent studies, more than ninety percent of people call only one funeral home at the time of need.   If families are not able to compare the services and prices available at multiple funeral homes, they may be spending more than they need or not getting the end of life services they desire.  Funeral homes are required to give consumers a price list in person or over the phone. You can also easily compare all of the funeral homes and cremation providers in your area by visiting www.funeralocity.com.   

2. Pre-Planning

The best thing to do is to plan in advance.  It removes the burden from your loved ones of making these difficult decisions and may save you money. Select funeral service and burial elements according to your personal preferences, and pay for specific costs up front. 

3. Buy Your Own Casket

A funeral director must provide a price list before showing customers their casket inventory. Use this information to compare prices and get the best value for your budget.  Additionally, funeral homes are required to accept outside products purchased by the family, so searching for a cheaper casket online can dramatically lower total funeral costs. Today, you can even buy caskets at places like Walmart, Costco or Amazon.

4. Choose Cremation

You can save money on funeral expenses by skipping the funeral altogether. Today, more than 50% of families choose cremation for their loved ones. Cremation costs tend to be lower than traditional funeral expenses because there’s no need for embalming, a viewing/funeral service, or even a casket. You can purchase a direct cremation and arrange a memorial service after the fact, which is often less expensive yet still a dignified method of saying a final goodbye. Cremation also saves on burial/cemetery costs.

5. Donate your Body to Science

Donating your body to science is a free end-of-life option that allows surviving family members to save on funeral expenses, while simultaneously advancing scientific exploration. Your family can make arrangements to have your cremated ashes returned to them once the medical research is completed.