How can I lower the funeral costs? A question I'm hearing more and more lately as an active licensed funeral director. A fair question and with funeral costs continuing to rise rapidly, a question that I predict more and more families will be asking.
The first step in my opinion is to decide on the type of services you want before making the formal funeral arrangements, or getting prices or costs. Many families make these important decisions at the funeral arrangement conference allowing them little time to think about the economics of their decisions. My observation has been that, decisions made at the arrangement conference are generally more stressful and emotional for the family. Other families who come to the conference prepared and arrangements already decided and agreed upon, seem to be far less stressed and emotional. Emotional spending can drive funeral costs upward fast! Knowing the type of services you desire before making funeral plans will go a long way in helping to lower the total funeral costs.
The second step is to consider the merchandise costs. Whether the family is choosing a ground burial or cremation, merchandise will need to be purchased. This could consist of a casket, burial vault. cremation urns, etc. and will play a large part in the funeral price a family pays. Again, emotional spending can come into play here. As merchandise selections are usually made at the funeral arrangement conference, families must make these decisions many times with limited time for consideration. I suggest having a price range in mind before selecting any merchandise. Let the funeral director know these ranges before beginning. Most funeral homes offer vast merchandise choices in all price ranges. A family can then select from options available without fear of overspending.
Communication with your funeral facility of choice will be very important. Let them know what you want and what your spending limits are. Remember, it does the funeral home no good to sell a family services and merchandise they can't pay for. Reputable funeral homes will always try to work with a family to make sure they can have the type services and merchadise they desire at a price the family can afford.
It's really as simple as setting spending limits for the services and merchandise and then communicating these to your funeral provider of choice. These simple suggestions should keep emotional overspending out of the picture and assure you of a lower cost funeral.
Jerry R. Guy is an active licensed funeral director and author. More information on how to lower funeral costs can be found at his sites: http://www.beforeplanningafuneral.com and http://www.integritypreneedsolutions.com
