It's one of the hardest things to have to bury your child. It feels like it goes against the natural order of things. It can be hard to find items that suit a young life being cut short and help you to truly remember the spirit of the child you are burying. This site has a collection of ideas and thoughts that can be used when coming up with memorial services that celebrate the short life and personality of your child. It can be a useful resource for family, communities or schools plan sympathetic funeral services for children and their loved one.
Prearranged funerals are becoming popular for a number of reasons, including not wanting to burden family members at a difficult time and having control over the execution of your last wishes. A prearranged funeral allows you to plan every aspect of your funeral yourself with a funeral director of your choosing. The arrangements are then carried out on your behalf by your funeral director when you pass, which provides great comfort to some people. As you'll be aware, funerals can be costly. However, planning your own in advance gives you the opportunity to take your time when deciding what you want and what you're happy to go without. When funerals are arranged by family members who are grieving, there's often less capacity to think about costs during that difficult period. So, if you'd like to arrange your own funeral on a budget, here are some tips:
Cremation Or Burial
Some people have strong feelings about being buried or cremated, but when considering cost alone, direct cremation is the least expensive option. This is a no-fuss option that doesn't involve having a service before the cremation, but you can arrange for a few parting words to be said at the crematorium. If you'd like to be buried, reserving a plot ahead of time can be cheaper, and it's also cheaper to be buried in the same plot as a family member. Regardless of whether you opt for a cremation or burial, consider whether you're happy to have a very basic coffin. You can save a considerable amount by opting for a no-frills coffin, and you can ask for a special shawl or another piece of material to be draped over the coffin to improve its appearance.
The Venue
Funerals can be held in homes, community halls and places of worship and the cost will vary depending on the venue. So, when you get to this step in the planning process, pause and do your research. The least costly option is to have the service in your home, if that is possible. You will need to consider whether everyone will be able to be seated comfortably, and if you live with anyone, you should seek their permission. Places of worship are often willing to fix their fee for those prearranging their funeral, so you may be able to pay today's price for a funeral that may not take place for decades. An advantage of having your service outside of your home is that the venue will take care of the set-up and clean-up.
Payment Options
There are a few payment options available for those wishing to plan their own funeral. You could arrange for the cost of your funeral to be paid to your nominated funeral director from your savings at the time of your death. Alternatively, you could take out a funeral plan insurance policy that will pay a fixed sum on your death. Depending on when you die, this sum may or may not cover the entire cost of your funeral and a shortfall may need to be covered by savings. If you want to ensure your funeral is fully paid for and the price won't increase as the years go by, opt for a prepaid funeral plan. This allows you to pay for every aspect of your funeral at today's prices and offers peace of mind that no unexpected costs will creep up in the future.
If you'd like to start arranging your funeral, get in touch with your local funeral director for more information about how to pre-arrange funerals.
Share13 September 2022
