DOITYOURSELFFUNERAL.NET
Funeral services are one of the largest purchases consumers will make, right up there with a car and a house.
We understand that the task of caring for the details following the death of a loved one can be overwhelming and confusing. So, we have prepared this basic information to help you through that process. Please realize that some of the items on this list will not pertain to your specific situation and they may be disregarded.
Most families can save $3,000-$6,000 by doing much of the coordination themselves. According to AARP, funeral and burial costs can easily reach as much as $10,000. The average cost of a traditional adult funeral in 2008 was $9,500 without any extras. Burial costs can add an extra $2,000 or more. Flowers, obituary notices, burial liners or vaults, limousines, acknowledgement cards -- they all add up to a major expenditure. In many parts of the country, a loved one can be laid to rest with dignity for less than $800, by choosing cremation and using creativity. Even those who favor a traditional funeral and burial can save hundreds or thousands of dollars by taking a few simple steps. When a loved one dies, the last thing on most people's minds is money. Only later do grief-stricken survivors find out that dying in America is very expensive -- so expensive, the saying goes, that no one can afford to do it anymore.
Testimonies
Most families can plan a funeral. Most of us have planned birthday parties, anniversary events, showers, and holiday celebrations. We have found it best to select a coordinator in the family, if you come to an impasse, allow the coordinator who is chosen by the family to make the ultimate decision and the rest of the family agrees to accept their decision with love. A funeral is not the right place for strife and disagreement. Your selected coordinator should be a person who is not emotionally exhausted, a steady diligent personality is best.
Here are a few examples of what some funeral directors would rather you not know.
Here are a few examples of what some funeral directors would rather you not know.
- Funeral directors are not clergy.
- Funeral directors are business people. They are in business to make money.
- A funeral provider may not refuse or charge a fee to handle a casket you bought elsewhere.
- You do not have to buy the whole bundle of services.
- You can plan and carry out many things on your own to honor your loved one without paying for services from a funeral home.
- Local funeral and memorial societies can help consumers find ethical establishments and often negotiate discounts for their members.