The most challenging time in anyone’s life is when they grieve for deceased friends and family. It’s especially difficult when you have to plan the funeral yourself.
Everyone wants to follow the wishes of their loved ones and respect their legacy. These are four tips for how to plan a funeral on a budget.
Educate Yourself on Each Type of Service
The first step to take when planning a funeral is to make sure that you know each type of funeral service. Planning a budget and sticking with it is integral to funeral arrangements.
Note each of the distinct factors to consider when choosing a funeral home. Direct cremation is the cheapest option, but there are many ways to keep costs low if you decide to take another route.
Create Your Own Funeral Materials
Whichever option you choose, creating your own materials is cheaper than buying or renting them. Building a casket or urn seems daunting, but plenty of tutorials online teach you how to do it.
There are other items that funerals provide (for a price) that you can supply yourself. For instance, sending funeral invites online or via email is free.
You can also supply clothing for the deceased to wear. Centerpieces, decorative memorials, and memorial service favors are also things you can make yourself.
Explore Different Methods for Financing
If money is tight, then you’ll need help paying for all of the funeral expenses. Reach out to loved ones and ask if they can help.
When speaking with funeral homes and cremation companies, be upfront about keeping costs down. If your loved one was in the military, you could receive burial and funeral benefits.
Religious organizations can also host funerals, often free for members or with lower costs than a funeral home. In addition, asking for donations instead of flowers helps with the financial aspect of a funeral. Opting for a potluck rather than a traditional restaurant reception is another way to save on costs.
Avoid Unnecessary Expenses
The most practical tip for how to plan a funeral on a budget is to avoid unnecessary expenses. For example, funeral homes often charge extra for flowers, so you save money by going to the florist and picking them up yourself.
If you decide to go with a burial, skipping the burial vault and finding a low-cost plot location in the cemetery are both great strategies to stay frugal. However, skipping the burial entirely and opting for cremation is cheaper. If you rent an urn or bring your own, it saves money on cremation costs.
Other ways to avoid costs include using your own family and friends as pallbearers and keeping the obituary brief (newspapers often charge per word). Once everything is done, ask the funeral home for an itemized price list. You may be able to negotiate costs down even further if you see anything out of the ordinary.