Given that a typical British funeral will set you back over £4,500 nowadays – and some cost considerably more than this average – many people want to economise on the arrangements they make. Of course, there are some costs associated with even the most inexpensive funerals, known as direct cremations. However, there are plenty of ways to reduce your expenditure even if you don’t want a direct funeral service. What are the best ones?
- Opt for a cremation, not a burial. In nearly all cases, cremations are cheaper to arrange than burials. For one thing, you don’t need a grave to be dug for you.
- Choose a simple container. Many people want an urn for the ashes of the person they’ve arranged a cremation for. The chances are that the ashes will be scattered and the urn will no longer be used so why buy an expensive one?
- Buy a cardboard coffin. If you want a burial for personal or religious reasons, then there is no need to buy a decorated casket or a solid wood coffin with lots of adornments. Instead, a cardboard coffin will suffice. They look very good nowadays and are not flimsy or weak. What’s more, they biodegrade quicker than wooden models.
- Pay in advance. According to funeral industry experts, Newrest Funerals, taking out a pre-payment arrangement is the best way of saving money. This is because the costs of the funeral will be met at today’s prices, not what the service will cost when you pass on.
- Ask for no flowers. Bear in mind that the costs associated with modern funerals affect mourners as well as the direct family of the deceased. It is quite common to see flowerless funerals these days to save money. Sometimes, people ask for a less costly donation to charity instead.
- Arrange a live stream. Live streaming a funeral service is more popular than ever. If you know friends and family will spend a great deal to travel to the UK from overseas, for example, then offering them the chance to attend virtually is a good way to lower their expenditure.
- Choose an unpopular slot. Local authority-run crematoria tend to provide different pricing depending on when the funeral will be arranged. Weekends are more expensive than mid-week slots, for example. The first time of the day is usually the cheapest one to go for.
- Don’t have the body embalmed. Some people prefer not to have the body of their loved one embalmed anyway. However, the fact remains that this service costs money and unless you really want it, embalming is something you don’t necessarily need to fork out for.