My name is Evan, and I am a funeral director at a busy funeral home in the Midwestern United States. I have found that many loved ones want to personalize the funeral experience, but they simply don't know how. I am going to outline some ways that you can make a funeral unique to the person you are celebrating. From dramatic readings to favorite music to decorated caskets, the only limit is your imagination when it comes to planning the perfect funeral. I hope your mind will be open to the possibilities the next time you are in the unfortunate situation of having to plan a funeral.
Add Unique Touches to a Funeral
3 Tips For Planning A Funeral On A Budget
Christina Clarke
It's usually not a good idea to go shopping while you're in a highly emotional state. You're liable to make decisions that you wouldn't make otherwise and may be prone to overspending. Unfortunately, when someone you love dies and you're the one that has to arrange the funeral, you have no choice but to spend money, right when you're at your most vulnerable. It's easy to feel compelled to overspend in an attempt to honor your loved one. However, there are ways to plan a nice funeral for your loved one while sticking to a reasonable budget. Take a look at a few tips that can help.
Consider Passing on the Embalming Process
It's a commonly-held misconception that embalming is required by law, but in most cases, this isn't true. Embalming is both expensive and environmentally unfriendly, and there are alternatives if you would like to bypass this expense.
The least expensive options are to have a direct burial or direct cremation. In this case, the word "direct" means "shortly after death". If you choose to go this route, you will probably not have time to arrange a viewing. However, that's not necessarily a dealbreaker. You can always hold a memorial service (like a funeral, but without the body present) at a later date. This could actually save you more money in the long run. Since you don't have to accommodate the body, you could host the memorial service at home, in a park, or at some other location that's free for you to use.
If skipping the viewing isn't an option for you, you can ask that the body be refrigerated or kept on dry ice, which will give you a few days to arrange a viewing. Some funeral homes also offer eco-friendly embalming products that may be less expensive than traditional formaldehyde embalming.
Separate the Prices from the Packages
Most funeral homes offer funeral packages – in other words, you pay one price for multiple items and services, like a casket, flowers, use of the funeral home's viewing facilities, and so on. Buying a package can sometimes be easier for a bereaved family member – instead of stressing over each detail, you just choose a package and let the funeral home take care of the rest. But if money is tight, a package may not be the best deal for your dollar.
Funeral homes are required by law to give you a listing that outlines separate prices for each of their products and services. You're allowed to break up a package, choosing only to pay for the items you need and skipping the rest.
Be sure to ask for a price list first. Sometimes funeral homes don't put their lower-cost items on display – for example, they may only put out their mid-to-high range caskets in a display room. Look at the price list first and ask to be shown the items that you can afford.
Look for Funeral Assistance Programs
If you can't afford a funeral, you may be eligible for help from either government or non-profit sources. The details vary by location and circumstance. In some states, assistance comes from the state itself, in other states, help is provided by the individual county or local governments. You usually have to meet certain eligibility requirements to qualify for government assistance with burial. For example, the state of Florida provides burial assistance when the deceased person meets certain poverty guidelines, or is the innocent victim of a crime.
Non-profits may also step in and help in certain circumstances – for example, there are charities that help pay for the funerals of babies or children. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Your funeral director will most likely be familiar with the resources in your area and will be able to help you locate the help that you need.
Keep in mind that the amount of money you spend on a funeral has nothing to do with your feelings for the deceased person. Don't be tempted to go overboard on bells and whistles if you can't afford them. A thoughtful but frugal funeral is just as respectful as an expensive one, and a good funeral home will be happy to help you plan a funeral that fits your budget.
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