Services offered by a funeral home

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Saturday, March 17th, 2012

Many people want to know what services are offered by a funeral home.  Funeral homes, cemeteries, and memorial dealers all play an important role in caring for a deceased family member.  However, funeral homes normally handle the actual funeral or memorial service. 

 

Different funeral home services

But not all funeral services are like.  In fact, funeral homes offer a range of services designed to accommodate different wishes and budgets. 

 

Here are the most common types of services offered at most funeral homes:

 

·        traditional funeral service

·        immediate burial

·        direct cremation

·        cremation with services

·        donation

·        memorial service

·        graveside service

·        private service

 

You should not finalize any funeral arrangements before you understand the goods, services, and costs associated with each option.  During the arrangement conference  you should ask the funeral director to explain his services and prices in easy-to-understand language so you can make the right decision for your family.  

 

Click to learn more about funeral home services and prices

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of direct cremation?

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Direct Cremation Advantages

Direct cremation offers an affordable alternative to traditional body burial. 

While direct cremation can significantly reduce funeral home costs, you can reap additional financial benefits from the cemetery and headstone dealer.  If you choose not to bury the cremated remains – and many people do not - you can eliminate many items that make the traditional funeral so expensive. 

Here is a list of costs you can eliminate by choosing direct cremation:

  • expensive casket
  • embalming
  • funeral home staff and facilities charge
  • cosmetic and hair dressing charges
  • funeral chapel or church fees
  • viewing or visitation charges
  • transportation fees (hearse, flower car, utility vehicle, etc.)
  • burial plot or mausoleum crypt
  • vault or grave liner
  • grave opening and closing costs
  • headstone or grave marker

But price is not the only advantage in choosing direct cremation.  Many people prefer cremation because the cremains (i.e. ashes) are portable.  This allows families to take remains with them when they move.  Many people also feel that choosing cremation over body burial is friendlier to the environment because no land is disturbed. 

Direct cremation is also simpler and more expedient.  The entire affair usually takes place in just two or three days; furthermore, direct cremation requires less time commitment from the family.  This can be especially important if surviving family members are ill, disabled, or live far away.

Cremation also offers a wide range of disposition options.  While most families decide to keep remains at home, other options exist.   You can find many creative cremation options in the Funeral Saver’s Kit.

 

Direct Cremation Disadvantages

While direct cremation offers many advantages, you also need to consider its potential disadvantages before finalizing your plans. 

Because many families find comfort in holding a traditional funeral service, a simpler direct cremation may not be therapeutic enough to satisfy surviving family members. 

In addition, direct cremation does not allow the family to celebrate the decedent’s life, nor does it give friends an opportunity to say goodbye.

And because the funeral home makes less money when providing direct cremation services, funeral home employees may try harder to sell you extras.

Lastly, even though you may not have to buy a grave site or headstone, you will incur an additional expense if you decide to purchase an urn.

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What costs are associated with a traditional funeral service?

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Sunday, March 11th, 2012

This post provides price ranges for many of the items associated with a traditional funeral service.  Reviewing these considerations will help you identify the type of funeral service most appropriate for your budget.  

A traditional funeral service can cost nearly $10,000

While the average funeral costs nearly $7,500, many traditional funerals cost in excess of $10,000.  Here are the main components typically associated with a traditional funeral:

  • casket: $2,300
  • funeral director’s basic services fee: $1,400
  • embalming and body preparation: $600
  • viewing / visitation ceremony: $400
  • funeral ceremony: $450
  • transportation (pick up body, limousine, and hearse): $625
  • miscellaneous (certificates, permits, music, clergy, obituary, register book, service folders, obituary, flowers): $500
  • grave site $1,000
  • fee to dig grave site $500
  • headstone $1,500

The above costs represent national averages for many of the costs associated with a traditional funeral service.  Your actual costs could be higher (or lower) based upon geographic location, the funeral home you select, and the actual items you purchase. 

Click to learn more about the cost of a traditional funeral service.

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If you need help paying funeral costs, request or negotiate a discount from the funeral home and cemetery

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Thursday, March 8th, 2012

Contrary to popular belief, most funeral directors are willing to give discounts to families that ask in an appropriate manner.  Many goods and services provided by a funeral home can easily be discounted by several hundred (or even several thousand) dollars before the funeral home starts to lose money.  Since most funeral homes buy their merchandise from the same few suppliers, they should be able to sell their goods and services for a similar price. 

However, if you come across a particular funeral home that is selling its merchandise for considerably more than other funeral homes in the area, they may be a good candidate for negotiating a lower price on funeral costs. 

If you don’t want to do the legwork yourself you can use a resource like the Funeral $aver’s Kit to quickly gauge which items are negotiable and how much of a discount is realistic.  The kit also shows you the proper way to discuss and negotiate a discount with the funeral director.  This simple, non-confrontational method has been proven to increase your chances of getting a fair deal.    

Click here to learn more about negotiating a funeral discount.

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What you need to know about funeral prices

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Friday, March 2nd, 2012

I’ll admit that gathering information about funeral prices is harder than it should be.  In addition, funeral homes and cemeteries are subject to different requirements when it comes to providing you with information about their prices and options. 

Funeral prices are not set in stone

If you only take away one thing from this article it should be this: funeral prices can vary greatly from one funeral home to the next.  This means a funeral service at one funeral home can cost thousands of dollars more than a similar service held at another funeral home right down the street….so it pays to shop around!

Why we don’t compare funeral prices

Unfortunately, most people do not compare prices between funeral homes.  This is understandable for a couple of reasons:

  • We don’t like to talk about or plan for death
  • Funeral plans often need to be made quickly – this can be especially burdensome when the death was unexpected
  • Most people simply do not know enough about funeral planning to even know what questions to ask or what items to compare
  • No one wants to be perceived as being cheap when it comes to making funeral arrangements for a loved one

However, you should approach the process of buying funeral goods and services just like you would any other major purchase – take the time to educate yourself as to the options and prices available in the marketplace.

Unfortunately, many funeral homes and cemeteries are reluctant to share their prices with you unless you use specific language when making your request.  They know they stand a much better chance of selling you an expensive funeral if they can first get you into their office before providing any information about funeral costs. 

The good news is that there are specific things you can say that will force the funeral home to give you their price information for FREE….and no funeral home would ever dare give you a sales pitch when you use this specific language.

An easier way to gather information about funeral prices

If you’re using the Funeral Saver’s Kit you’ll find a simple chart that clearly explains an easy (and low stress) way to collect pricing information from any funeral home in your area.  The kit tells you exactly what to say to ensure you get honest information at no cost to you.  You can use this to collect information from every funeral home in your area or just those that interest you.

 The best advice I can give you when it comes to collecting funeral price information is this: DON’T be afraid to pick up the phone and call it least three funeral homes in your area and ask them for a copy of their “general price list”.

Each funeral home’s general price list will describe services and merchandise in similar terms.  This makes it easy to compare relative prices between competing funeral homes.  Also, if a funeral home gives you a hard time about giving you information about their prices, forget them.  That’s a good clue they know their prices will not compare favorably to their competitors. 

Remember to compare your local price information to the actual price ranges included in the Funeral Saver’s Kit…so you can be certain you’re getting a fair deal.

Click for more detailed information about funeral prices.

 

 

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What are the advantages, disadvantages, and cost considerations when choosing an immediate burial?

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Saturday, February 25th, 2012

This article describes the benefits and costs of choosing an immediate burial instead of a traditional funeral.

 

Advantages of an immediate burial

 

The most obvious benefit of choosing an immediate burial is its lower cost.  An immediate burial often costs less than half what a typical traditional funeral costs.   

 

An immediate burial is simpler and more expedient than conducting a full-scale funeral service.  This lets you avoid pomp and unnecessary goods and services.

 

Choosing an immediate burial allows you to forgo many costs:

 

·        embalming

·        additional transportation fees (hearse, flower car, utility vehicle, etc.)

·        extra funeral home staff and service charges

·        cosmetic and hair dressing charges

·        funeral chapel or church fees

·        viewing / visitation charges

·        more expensive casket just to “look good”

 

 

Disadvantages of an immediate burial

 

Before choosing an immediate burial, you should be aware of other considerations. 

 

Even though an immediate burial can reduce the funeral home’s charges by a substantial amount, it usually has no impact on cemetery or headstone costs.  You will still need to purchase a grave site and headstone and pay to have the grave site dug. 

 

Some families find the pomp of a traditional funeral more soothing and therapeutic.  They are comforted when others pay their respects to the deceased.  Usually, an immediate burial does not give family and friends an opportunity to show support to the family.

 

Also, since there are no formal remembrance ceremonies at the funeral home, there is not much of an opportunity to celebrate the decedent’s life the way the family wants.  However, the family is free to arrange some type of remembrance service at their church or home.  You can get several ideas for planning a low cost remembrance service from the Funeral Saver’s Kit. 

 

 

Cost considerations of an immediate burial

 

While actual costs vary based on the selected funeral home, the average cost of an immediate burial is approximately $5,500.  This compares favorably to the nearly $10,000 cost associated with a traditional funeral service.  Total costs includes various goods and services: 

 

·        casket and the funeral home’s basic service fee: $2,700

·        miscellaneous (certificates, permits, obituary): $300

·        grave site (including fee to dig the hole): $1,250

·        headstone or grave marker: $1,250

 

 

Click here to learn more about an immediate burial.

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Common Funeral Terms – a funeral glossary

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Thursday, February 16th, 2012

ARRANGEMENT CONFERENCE – A meeting held between the funeral director and family members of the deceased to finalize funeral arrangements.  During this meeting the funeral director will discuss the family’s wishes and budget and prepare a binding contract for the funeral goods and services selected by the family.  This meeting usually takes place at the funeral home shortly after death has occurred.  However, it may also be held at a hospital or the family’s home.

 

ARRANGEMENT ROOM – A room at the funeral home used to make the necessary funeral arrangements with the family of the deceased.

 

BEREAVED – (N) The immediate family of the deceased. (V) suffering from grief upon the death of a loved one.

BURIAL – Placing of a dead body in an underground chamber – earth burial- interment

BURIAL CERTIFICATE OR PERMIT – A legal paper issued by the local government authorizing burial. The permit may authorize earth burial or cremation or removal to a distant point.

CASKET – A receptacle of wood, metal or plastic into which the dead human body is placed for burial. Sometimes referred to as a “coffin”.

CASKET COACH – Hearse – A special car designed and used to transport casketed remains from the funeral service to the cemetery. Also known as a Funeral Coach.

CEMETERY – An area of ground set aside for burial or entombment of the deceased.

CERTIFIED DEATH CERTIFICATE – A legalized copy of the original certificate, issued upon request by the local government for the purpose of substantiating various claims by the family of the deceased such as insurance and other death benefits.

CHAPEL – A large room in the funeral home in which the farewell service is held.

COLUMBARIUM – A granite wall for placing an urn containing cremated remains.

COMMITTAL SERVICE – The final portion of the funeral service at which time the deceased is interred or entombed.

COSMETOLOGY – Utilization of cosmetics to restore life like appearance to the deceased.

CREMAINS – another term for “ashes”.

CREMATION – Reduction of the body to ashes by fire.

CREMATION PERMIT – A certificate issued by local government authorizing cremation of the deceased.

CREMATORY – A furnace for cremating remains – a building housing such a furnace.

CRYPT – A vault or room used for keeping remains.

DEATH CERTIFICATE – A legal paper signed by the attending physician showing the cause of death and other vital statistical data pertaining to the deceased.

DEATH NOTICE – That paragraph in the classified section of a newspaper, or on the Internet, publicizing the death of a person and giving those details of the funeral service the survivors wish to have published.  Sometimes referred to as an obituary.

DECEASED – (N) one in whom all physical life has ceased; (V) dead.

DISPLAY ROOM – That room in the funeral home in which caskets, urns, and other funeral merchandise is displayed.

EMBALM – The process of preserving a dead body by means of circulating a preservative embalming fluid through the veins and arteries.

EMBALMING FLUID – Liquid chemicals used in preserving a dead body.

EULOGY- A brief speech (or speeches) that offers praise and celebrates the life of the person who has died. 

EXHUME – To dig up the remains; to remove from the place of burial.

FAMILY CAR – A limousine in the funeral procession set aside for the use of the immediate family.  This is the car right behind the hearse in the funeral procession.

FLOWER CAR – A vehicle used for the transportation of flower pieces from the funeral home to the church and/or cemetery.

FINAL RITES – The funeral service.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS – Funeral director’s conference with the family for the purpose of completing financial and service details of a funeral.

FUNERAL DIRECTOR – A person who prepares for the burial or other disposition of dead human bodies, supervises such burial or disposition, maintains a funeral establishment for such purposes.  Also known as a mortician or undertaker.

FUNERAL HOME – A building used for the purpose of embalming, arranging and conducting funerals.

FUNERAL SERVICE – 1) The profession which deals with the handling of dead human bodies; 2) The religious or other rites conducted immediately before final disposition of the dead human body.

FUNERAL SPRAY – A large bunch of cut flowers sent to the residence of the deceased or to the funeral home as a floral tribute to the deceased.

GRAVE – An excavation in the earth for the purpose of burying the deceased .

GRAVE LINER – A receptacle made of concrete, metal or wood into which the casket is placed.  Normally this item has four sides and a top but no bottom.  The main purpose of this item is to prevent the ground from sinking down around the grave site as the earth settles. By keeping the grass above the grave level with the rest of the cemetery, it’s easier to mow.  This item is less expensive than a vault.

GRAVE (OR MEMORIAL) MARKER – A headstone.  A method of identifying the occupant of a particular grave. Permanent grave markers are usually made of metal or stone and give data such as the name of the individual, date and place of birth, date and place of death.

HONORARY PALLBEARERS – Friends or members of a religious, social or fraternal organization who act as an escort or honor guard for the deceased. Honorary pallbearers do not carry the casket.

INTER – To bury a dead body in the earth in a grave or tomb.

INURNMENT – The placing of cremains (i.e. “ashes”) into an urn.

LEAD CAR – The vehicle in which the funeral director and sometimes the clergyman rides. When the procession is formed, the lead car moves to the front and leads the procession to the church and/or cemetery.  This car is usually in front of the hearse.

LIMOUSINE – An automobile designed to seat five or more persons behind the driver’s seat.

MASS CARDS – A card indicating that a Mass for the deceased has been arranged. (Catholic religion)

MAUSOLEUM – A building specially designed with several chambers to receive casketed remains.  A permanent above ground resting place for the dead.

MEMORIAL – the generic name given to any type of headstone or flat marker used to identify the occupant of a particular grave or crypt. A marker is usually a flat piece of granite or bronze upon which identifying data is inscribed.  A headstone is usually two large pieces of granite or marble upon which the identifying information is carved.  The identifying information may include the name of the individual, date and place of birth, date and place of death.  NOTE: in this kit I use the term “memorial” to represent any type of headstone or marker.  Section 2 of this kit describes in detail the various types and features of memorial markers available.

MEMORIAL DONATION – A memorial contribution specified to a particular cause or charity, usually in lieu of flowers.

MEMORIAL SERVICE – A religious service conducted in memory of the deceased without the body being present.  This term also applies when the service is conducted while the ashes / cremains are present.

MORGUE – A place in which the bodies of persons found dead are kept until identified and claimed or until arrangements for burial have been made.

MORTICIAN – See funeral director.

MORTUARY – A synonym for funeral home – a building specifically designed and constructed for caring for the dead.

MOURNER – One who is present at the funeral out of affection or respect for the deceased.

NICHE – A small opening or recess in a wall that is used to display an urn containing cremated remains.

OBITUARY – A notice of the death of a person usually placed in a newspaper, or on the Internet, containing a biographical sketch of the deceased person.  Sometimes referred to as a death notice.

PALLBEARERS – Individuals whose duty it is to carry the casket when necessary during funeral service. Pallbearers in some sections of the country are hired and in other sections they are close friends and relatives of the deceased.

PLOT – A specific area of ground in a cemetery owned by a family or individual. A plot usually contains two or more graves.  This is the space used to bury the casketed body or an urn containing cremains (ashes).

PREARRANGED FUNERAL – Funeral arrangements completed by an individual prior to his/her death.

PRIVATE SERVICE – This service is by invitation only and may be held at a place of worship, a funeral home or a family home.  This type of service is not open to the public or uninvited friends and family members.

PROCESSION – The vehicular movement of the funeral from the place where the funeral service was conducted to the cemetery. May also apply to a church funeral where the mourners follow the casket as it is brought into and taken out of the church.

PUTREFACTION – The decomposition of the body upon death which causes discoloration and the formation of a foul smelling product.

REGISTER – A book made available by the funeral director for recording the names of people visiting the funeral home to pay their respects to the deceased. Also has space for entering other data such as name, dates of birth and death of the deceased, name of the officiating clergyman, place of interment, time and date of service, list of floral tributes, etc.

REMAINS – The deceased.

REPOSING ROOM – A room of the funeral home where a body is stored from the time it is casketed until the time of the funeral service.

RESTORATION – The process of restoring mutilated and distorted features by employing wax, creams, plaster, etc.

RIGOR MORTIS – Rigidity of the muscles which occurs at death.

SERVICE CAR – Usually a utility vehicle such as a pickup truck or van. It is utilized to transport chairs, flower stands, shipping cases, etc.

SPIRITUAL BANQUET – A Roman Catholic practice involving specific prayers, such as Masses and Rosaries, offered by an individual or a group for a definite purpose.

SURVIVOR – The persons outliving the deceased, particularly the immediate family.

SYMPATHY CARDS – A card sent to the family to express sympathy.

URN – A container into which cremated remains are placed, made of metal, wood or stone.

VAULT – A receptacle made of concrete, metal or wood into which the casket is placed.  Normally this item has four sides and both a top and bottom.  The main purpose of this item is to prevent the ground from sinking down around the grave site as the earth settles. By keeping the grass above the grave level with the rest of the cemetery, it is easier to mow.  This item is more expensive than a grave liner – but it serves the same purpose.

VIEWING - An opportunity for survivors and friends to view the closed casket of the deceased in private, usually in a special room within the funeral home.

VIGIL – A Roman Catholic religious service held on the eve of the funeral service.

VISITATION – An opportunity for survivors and friends to view the open casket of the deceased in private, usually in a special room within the funeral home.

WAKE – A watch kept over the deceased, sometimes lasting the entire night preceding the funeral.

Learn more about funeral and cremation planning.

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How much does the average funeral cost?

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Friday, February 10th, 2012

This article provides average funeral cost data for American funerals. 

The average cost for an American funeral, like other goods and services, has been steadily increasing over the last two decades.  Anyone that has seen a late-night television commercial for funeral insurance knows the typical American funeral costs more than $6,000 – but is this an accurate estimate?  The short answer is “no.” 

Unfortunately, this $6,000 estimate is several years old and doesn’t take into consideration the additional expenses associated with burial in a cemetery and the purchase of a headstone.  Once all funeral-related costs are factored in, the typical traditional funeral service will cost the average family closer to $8,000 - $10,000.  But before we discuss specific funeral costs, we need to spend a few minutes discussing how the funeral industry works.  This will help us understand where our money goes when planning a funeral.

 

Average Funeral Costs: How the Funeral Industry Works

Most people planning a funeral use the services of a funeral home.  The funeral director is either the owner of a funeral home or, more commonly, an employee of a large corporate-owned chain of funeral homes.  In most cases the funeral director’s compensation is tied to the profits he generates for the funeral home or the sales commissions he earns by selling related goods and services.

While the funeral director will serve as the family’s main service provider when arranging a funeral service, other businesses are involved as well.  In addition to the funeral home, most families will need to use the services of a cemetery and a headstone dealer.  Often times, the funeral director will coordinate the purchase of goods and services between the family and the cemetery and headstone dealer.  While this is certainly convenient for the family, you need to remember that you are really buying things from three separate business entities: the funeral home, the cemetery, and the headstone dealer.

The funeral director’s main responsibility is generating profits for the funeral home.  Unfortunately, this often means the funeral director’s main objective is to increase the amount of money you spend at the funeral home, leaving cemetery and headstone costs as a separate expense for the family.  This is why the typical funeral service is publicized as costing $6,000 – because the family often pays about $6,000 to the funeral director.  However, the family still has to pay the cemetery for the purchase of a grave spot and the dealer for the price of a headstone.  It’s these additional goods and services that add another $2,000 to $4,000 to the price of a funeral.  Unfortunately, many families do not find this out until after they have signed a contract for the funeral services with the funeral director.

  

Average Funeral Costs: Three Key Components

Because the typical funeral home charges $6,000 for their services, but the average family often spends closer to $10,000 when all is said and done, it makes sense to break funeral costs into their three main components: what’s paid to the funeral home, what’s paid to the cemetery, and what’s paid to purchase a headstone or grave marker.

First, the funeral home

It’s no surprise that most families call a funeral home when someone they love dies.  The funeral home dispatches a funeral director to pick up the body and bring it back to the funeral home.  The funeral director then schedules a meeting with surviving family members to help them arrange the funeral service. 

The family spends approximately $6,000 on goods and services purchased from the funeral home.  Here is a price breakdown of some of those typical costs:

  • casket – $2,300
  • funeral director’s basic services fee – $1,500
  • embalming and body preparation – $600
  • funeral ceremony and viewing – $1,000
  • miscellaneous (hearse, death certificates, obituary, etc.) – $600

Next comes the cemetery

The average traditional funeral service is followed by body burial in a cemetery.  While most cemeteries used to be owned by non-profit organizations, nowadays many are owned by the same for-profit corporations that own the funeral homes.  The average family will spend approximately $2,000 for goods and services at the cemetery.  Here is a price breakdown of the typical costs:

  • grave space – $1,000
  • cost to dig the grave ( sometimes called the open/close fee) – $1,000

Many families are surprised to learn that the price they pay for the grave site does not include the cost to dig the hole for burial, but this is how it works.

Don’t forget about the headstone or grave marker

While the typical family has spent close to $8,000 by now, there are still more costs involved in completing the funeral transaction.  If the body is buried in a cemetery you will also need to purchase a headstone or grave marker.  The type of stone you are required to buy depends on the section of the cemetery in which the body is buried.  A headstone is typically a two-piece granite rock that sits on top of the grave site.  It’s typically two feet high.  A grave marker is typically a flat granite or bronze plaque that lies flat on the ground on top of grave site.  Here is a rough approximation as to what you can expect to spend on a headstone:

  • Headstone – $2,000
  • Grave Marker – $1,000

Again, the funeral home may coordinate the purchase of the cemetery space and headstone on behalf of the family – it just depends on the funeral home.  While this can be a great convenience to the family, the price can be higher because the cemetery or headstone dealer will have to pay an additional sales commission to the funeral home.

 

Average Funeral Costs: Can they be lowered? – YES!

It is fair to say that many families are truly surprised when they add up all the costs associated with a funeral.  Fortunately, proper funeral planning can yield considerable savings.  I have spent nearly ten years helping families plan more affordable funeral arrangements, and I have found that with a little planning and knowledge, the typical family can realistically reduce their out-of-pocket funeral expenses by $3,000 to $5,000.  If you would like to save money the next time you need to make funeral arrangements, you can find my money saving funeral guide here.

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What is included in the Funeral Saver’s Kit?

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Saturday, February 4th, 2012

The Funeral Saver’s Kit has 5 main sections:

Section 1 – provides an overview of what’s included in the kit and how to best use the information.  It also provides simple guidance for determining which pieces of the kit are applicable to your needs.  Realizing you may need to make decisions quickly, this will allow you to use the information in this kit efficiently without getting bogged down in a bunch of unnecessary details.

Section 2 – this section provides you with a basic “funeral education”.  It explains the various options available to you.  After reading this section you will be able to confidently select funeral arrangements based on your preferences and budget. 

Section 3 – this section details the financial “nuts and bolts” of saving money on funeral arrangements.  It explains dozens of things you can do to significantly reduce the cost of your funeral arrangements.

Section 4 – this section provides numerous ideas that show you how to make funeral arrangements that are meaningful and satisfying to your family.  Most of these ideas are things you can do for free or at very little cost.

Section 5 – this section provides information and resources pertaining to alternative sources for funeral goods and services as well as grief-related articles.  It’s also where you will find forms and worksheets that will help you organize your wishes and estimate your costs.

The kit also includes a quick-start audio message that makes it easy to get started right away.  It’s made for people that know very little about funeral planning.  

Click to order the Funeral Saver’s Kit.

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Planning an affordable funeral

By Mike Testa · Comments (0)
Sunday, January 29th, 2012

This article shows you things you can do to plan an affordable funeral.  With the typical funeral now costing more than the price of a decent used car, many families need help planning a more affordable funeral (or cremation) service.

Typical funeral costs vs. affordable funeral costs

Most American funerals now cost between $8,000 and $10,000.  Unfortunately, as baby boomers age, demand for funeral services will grow and drive funeral prices up even further.  Some experts predict that within three years the average traditional funeral will cost nearly $12,000.

With proper planning and a little foresight, you can realistically reduce out-of-pocket funeral expenses by at least 50%. 

Is it too late to plan an affordable funeral service?

While most families do end up spending close to $10,000 on funeral expenses when a loved one dies, more families are also finding ways to reduce or eliminate the tremendous financial burden that death brings.

The key to affordable funeral planning starts by understanding the funeral industry.  Unfortunately, most information about funeral planning comes from funeral directors themselves – or at least it used to.  Sites such as funeral tips.com can take the mystery out of funeral planning and provide objective advice that benefits family members.

Most families don’t know much about funeral planning.  It’s not a topic we like to think about, and the average family only plans a funeral about once every fifteen years.  This means that most families automatically go along with whatever recommendations the funeral director makes. 

Unfortunately, many families don’t realize that funeral homes are in business to make money, so funeral homes won’t usually offer more affordable choices to families – unless the family knows what to ask for. 

That’s the bad news; the good news is that a little education goes a long way.  For example, the typical family using an objective funeral planning guide such as the Funeral Saver’s Kit, usually cuts their funeral bills by more than 50% – saving themselves thousands of dollars in unnecessary expenses.

Planning a more affordable funeral

Here’s a great tip from the Funeral Saver’s Kit that can help you plan a more affordable funeral or cremation service: understand how funeral homes price their goods and services.  While most funeral homes offer similar services, they often price their services differently.  For example, Funeral Home A might charge a large fee for the funeral directors’ time and add a small markup on the price of a casket; while Funeral Home B might charge a smaller fee for the funeral director’s time, but then make up for it by charging more for the casket.

Even though on paper both funeral homes appear to offer the same overall price for a traditional funeral, you’ll find that in most cases, Funeral Home B is willing to give you a larger discount off their normal pricing structure.  You can use the Funeral Saver’s Kit to find those funeral homes in your area that are most likely to offer you a large discount.  It’s easy to negotiate a discount once you know how, and you really can save thousands of dollars in the process. 

The affordable funeral vs. cremation

Over the last few years, a new trend has been emerging: more families are choosing cremation in lieu of a full-blown funeral.  The good news is that cremation can be less expensive than a funeral followed by body burial.  Unfortunately, to protect profit margins, most funeral homes have increased their cremation prices, making cremation a less attractive option compared to what it was just a few years ago. 

While some families have no preference for the deceased, many families don’t like being forced to choose cremation solely because that’s the only thing they can afford. 

If you prefer a traditional funeral but can only afford cremation, don’t despair.  There is plenty you can do to bridge the price gap and lower your overall funeral bill. The key is knowing which funeral home expenses can be eliminated without impacting the funeral service itself. 

If you aren’t sure which items can be safely eliminated without impacting a quality funeral service, read the relevant section in the Funeral Saver’s Kit.

 Affordable funeral costs – what’s the verdict?

As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, demand for funeral goods and services will outstrip the ability of funeral homes to provide those goods and services.  Unfortunately, this means that funeral prices will likely increase by a substantial amount over the next two decades. 

Fortunately, technology and the Internet can make it easier for savvy families to beat the funeral homes at their own game.  Consumer-friendly funeral planning tools, such as the Funeral Saver’s Kit, can save families thousands of dollars in unnecessary expenses and help them plan a more affordable funeral.  This is especially welcome news in such uncertain economic times.

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