Guest post by Lucille Rosetti, creator of TheBereaved.org
No one wants to think about their own death. But, with the rising cost of funeral arrangements and a variety of options available, it is easier to plan.
Figuring out your final wishes ahead of time lets your family know exactly what you want and takes a substantial weight off their shoulders. You can plan how you’re going to pay for your funeral ahead of time so that you can ensure it will not be a burden on your family.
Planning your funeral can seem overwhelming, but we’re here to help you sort everything out.
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Decide Where You Want the Funeral
The first step in planning your funeral is to decide where you want it held. Smaller towns usually have only one or two funeral homes, which narrows down your options quite a bit. However, if you live in a city or large community, you might have more options.
Secondly, you should look at what funeral options each funeral home has as well as pricing options. You shouldn’t choose a funeral home that is way out of your budget, but you shouldn’t select a home that can’t accommodate your last wishes either.
Type of Service
You should also carefully consider what type of service you want after your death. Funerals are by far the most common services, but they are not the only options. Funerals can be expensive and might not meet your ideal vision for your memorial.
You also need to decide if you’re going to have a wake, which is a traditional gathering to remember the life of a deceased loved one.
Memorial services are another popular choice. They are usually less formal and take place at a family home or religious building. They can be considerably less expensive than a funeral.
Burial vs. Cremation
One of the biggest questions you need to ask yourself when planning your final wishes is whether you want to be cremated or buried. Depending on your religion or region, the answer might be easy. But, for others, you will have to weigh each option carefully.
Dignity Memorial explains that those who choose cremation have many remembrance options. From particular cremation garden areas to benches and pedestals, there are several choices if you decide to be cremated.
Covering the Cost
Depending on what final wish options you choose, the cost of your funeral can vary quite a bit. For example, a burial is often more expensive than cremation. But, specific cremation options can be more costly than a normal burial. It has a lot to do with your personal preferences and wishes.
To help you pay for whatever you choose, you might want to consider burial insurance. This can help you cover your funeral arrangements and even your debts, including medical bills and personal loans. When deciding how much coverage you need, it is important to consider what final arrangements you want and whether you would like extra money left over to pay any bills.
Another option is downsizing homes to reduce your living expenses. If you’re going this route, you can also earn some extra cash by holding an estate sale and selling items you no longer need or that won’t fit in your new home.
CreditCards.com also explains that there are many other ways to finance a funeral as well. However, many of those funding options are unavailable after death has already taken place, so it is imperative to plan as much as possible.
Planning for final arrangements can seem stressful if you don’t have a clear roadmap. We recommend following this guide carefully and writing down your thoughts as you go through each step. Then, you can use your notes as a springboard to planning your final arrangements.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
