The economy affects things that we don’t even think about such as the funeral of a loved one. If you’re relatively young, this isn’t even in your radar, however if you’re older or have aging parents that you’re caring for, then this is a thought that at some point has crossed your mind.
Many times due to an unforeseen or catastrophic event, we are pulled into this world of “end of life” and are at the mercy of the local funeral home on how to proceed and on the various costs associated with such an event. In this instance we end up with a variety of large expenses that could possibly have been avoided and or reduced with proper planning and some foresight.
Just as we find ways to save when we purchase a home, a car, clothes, tech and travel there are ways to also save on funeral expenses. You needn’t sacrifice good care for low cost service, you just need to know how and where to look for savings. Below we highlight three such ways to have a frugal funeral – whether now or in the future.
1. Low Cost Burial Plot -
One of the ways you can potentially save money with an impending or future funeral is via a low cost burial plot. One good thing to try is to ask friends and family members maybe even your extended social network to see if anyone knows of low cost but good burial plot providers. You might get an excellent referral from a trusted friend who has used said provider before or simply knows them well. This worth its weight in gold and could mean the difference between saving several thousand dollars in extra expenses you might not have had readily available.
2. Cremation -
Many prefer cremation instead of a burial as it might come across as less heart breaking however there’s another big benefit to cremation and that is savings. The typical cost to cremate a body runs approximately $1,500 in the US as of this writing, whereas a typical burial service can run upwards of $10,000. As you can see a whopping huge difference between the two options. Look in your local web directory to see what’s offered in your area, as fees do vary by city and state.
3. Barter Funeral Services -
In the olden days what many without cash did was to barter. This form of payment has grown in popularity due to the recent flat economy. Good news is that it can literally be used for just about any service or product including funeral products and services. Maybe you happen to live next door to a funeral home owner and you’re a general contractor, guess what? This is a ripe arrangement for barter. Let him or her know that you would be willing to trade services for mutual benefit and that it just needs to be set up in advance or put on paper and set aside till needed.
Planning for the funeral of a loved one is hard enough without having to go into a complete tailspin because of unforeseen expenses. If you plan right and in advance a frugal funeral is at your disposal when the need should arise.
Guest article by: freelance frugal living writer Missy Diaz who writes about life insurance rates and provides life insurance quotes on the web.
The best thing you can do to save money is to get as many estimates as possible from as many funeral directors as possible then check the quality of each one as we all know the chestiest is not always the best.
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