Funerals are expensive, with the cheapest funeral costs approximately $2,000. With close to 7,000 people dying each day, it is important to be prepared for the high price tags associated with deaths. The last thing grieving loved one should be worried about is how to come up with the money for a decent burial. There are ways to shave money off the bill such as some of the ways listed below.
Comparison Shop Online
Several websites are available to allow you to plan a low-cost funeral. Some sites will email you estimates while others will provide you with instant free quotes. There are also websites that direct you to agencies in your state where you can get assistance from organizations to help with the cost.
Don’t Embalm
Embalming alone is a $700 service. No states require it to be done for funerals. You can see if the funeral home 
provides refrigeration instead. Refrigeration usually only costs you $50 each day. Funeral homes will not mention this majority of the time because it is a $700 profit for them.
Go With Wood during Cremations
If you decide it is best to go with a direct cremation without the viewing, there is no need to purchase a casket. Instead, you have the option of going with a cheap unfinished wood box. There are no laws that state the body has to be in a casket for cremations.
Don’t Purchase the Casket or Urn from the Funeral Home
There are numerous options available for purchasing a casket or urn. Many states do not require you to purchase the casket or urn from the funeral home. The funeral homes also cannot charge you a handling fee if you don’t purchase from them.
You have to make sure you found a bargain when shopping. You will find that similar caskets and urns that funeral homes sell for more than $2,000 can be purchased in other places for approximately $950.
Have a Funeral at Home
In many states, you can have home funerals. You just have to make sure you get a death certificate from the doctor and file it, care for the body until the funeral, and take your loved one to their final resting spot.
Medical School Donations
Usually, when you donate the body to a medical school you will not encounter any fees. However, if you take this route the body will not be able to be present during the funeral. However, once the study is over, you will get cremated remains of your loved one. Just keep in mind the study could last for a couple of years.
Conclusion
When a loved one dies unexpectedly, some finances have to be raised. We recommend that everyone have some type of burial insurance or life insurance to ensure that when the time comes, all funeral related expenses are covered. In addition, before something happens you want to make sure that you have a will, so your loved ones can fulfill your last wishes.
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