The average cost of a funeral in the United States comes in at a whopping $6,600, which does not include cemetery services, such as burial fees or a headstone, which can drive the bill up as much as $3,000 more. If you are in the process of prearranging your own funeral, there is no doubt that you will be looking for opportunities to save money on the total expenses. Thankfully, there are three easy changes you can make to your funeral plan that could shave off as much as $1,000 from your total funeral bill.
1. Bring an outfit of your own. - During the process of making arrangements at the funeral home, you will be given the chance to pick out an outfit to wear for the funeral from a catalog provided by the funeral director. There may be some awesome choices and this may be a convenience, but it could be a better option to just go buy a new outfit for yourself and leave it with your loved ones. Burial clothes for men directly from the funeral home can be as high as $400, with outfits for women taking a close second at $350. You could save a lot of money by using a favorite outfit you already have in your closet or just buying something from a retail clothing store.
2. Skip the embalming process. - It is a common misconception that you have to be embalmed. However, this is not always the case as embalming is only a matter of preserving the body for viewing. Embalming fees can run as high as $1,290, which is a price that often includes other bodily preparations like makeup and hairstyling. If you don't mind a closed casket service, you could always skip the embalming process and save a good chunk of money. It is worth noting that if you choose not to be embalmed, you will also need to make sure the funeral home has a refrigerated holding area available.
3. Go with a cardboard or fiberboard casket. - Out of everything required for a funeral, the casket could possibly be one of the largest expenses involved. With costs at between $345 on the low end and $12,000 on the high end, wood or metal caskets are easily an expensive investment. On the contrary, cardboard or fiberboard caskets, which are much more lightweight in design but still a sturdy choice, can be obtained for as little as $50 for a low-end design.
For pre-arranged funerals, contact a company such as Ryan-Parke Funeral Home.
