The average funeral can quite easily cost you as much as $11,000.
The last thing that you want is to deal with when you’re grieving the loss of someone you love is the reality that you simply can’t afford to give them the funeral they deserve.
Many people feel completely overwhelmed by how to bring their funeral ideas to life when they’re also on a serious budget.
This post is here to help you create a beautiful service that honors the life of the person you cared about, while also making smart financial decisions.
Read on to get affordable funeral remembrance ideas and understand how to lower the cost of and finance a funeral.
1. Understand Your Financing Options
First of all, when you’re coming up with funeral ideas for how to pay for a service, you should consider all of your options.
Remember that many people today turn to crowdfunding platforms in order to afford the costs of a funeral. People that you know and love — and who cared for the deceased — would likely be happy to help if given the opportunity.
Additionally, you may be able to apply for personal loans to help you to cover funeral memorial ideas and expenses. Always apply for the lowest possible amount you need. Study up on the terms of the loan to be certain you can pay it back within the stated time period.
2. Compare Your Estimates
It’s important to get as many estimates as you can when it comes to the costs associated with different funeral homes.
Don’t be afraid to use a lower rate you’ve been offered by one home as a way to negotiate with another. Additionally, be certain that you ask about any kind of payment plans and options the home has available.
General funeral costs include transportation of the remains, the casket or urn, embalming the body, and more. Remember that you’ll still need to pay for flowers and the cemetery plot on your own.
Ask for an itemized list of all the different things that are included in your estimate.
3. Have the Visitation in Your Home
The visitation is one of the most important parts of any funeral service.
You want the one you’re planning to be special, but also affordable. We think the perfect compromise is to have the visitation in your home.
Not only will this help to cut costs, but it also allows people to say their final goodbyes in an atmosphere the deceased loved and was comfortable in. Plus, you can provide your own seating and food, which is yet one more way you can keep costs down.
You also won’t have to worry about transportation to and from another funeral home or location, which can be stressful and expensive.
4. Consider Cremation
Many people don’t realize that cremation is a much more affordable option than ground burial.
This is because you’re not paying for a casket, the services needed to lower it into the ground, and a funeral plot. You also won’t have to pay for things like embalming, either.
Plus, you can also keep some of your loved one’s ashes in your home, so that they’ll always be with you. Additionally, you can scatter their ashes in some of their favorite places, which is a beautiful touch.
Find out more about cremation, and decide if it’s the right choice for your loved one.
5. Supply Your Own Flowers
While flowers are certainly an important part of any funeral ceremony, there are ways that you can limit their costs.
First of all, whenever possible, avoid buying your flowers from the funeral home directly. Though the arrangements may be lovely, they’re often much more expensive than those you could buy on your own.
Ask a friend or family member to help you select your own flowers, and create your own arrangements. This guide is an excellent resource.
One of the most beautiful and unique funeral ideas is to have each guest bring one flower that they feel represents the memory of the deceased.
They could even tie a piece of paper with a memory of the time they spent together to the stem. Then, during the service, each person could place their flower in the casket or grave.
6. Rent a Casket
Yes, believe it or not, it is possible to rent a casket for the funeral service or visitation only.
If you opt for cremation, be aware that you can also rent an urn for the services.
Many people choose to rent a casket because it allows them to spend more money on the aspects of the service that are much more important to them. You can speak with your family members and decide if this is the route you’d like to take.
Plus, doing so may allow you to rent a more opulent and expensive casket than you’d be able to afford to buy outright.
These Funeral Ideas Will Help You to Save
We hope that these funeral ideas have helped you to realize that you don’t need to spend a lot of money in order to give someone you cared about a beautiful service.
In the end, remember that things like the right hymns, heartfelt eulogies, and even notes in the program will make much more of an impression.
Looking for more advice about how to plan a celebration of someone’s life? Having a hard time with your grief, and need to know how you can heal?
We can help with that.
Keep checking back with us for more advice on how to save, honor the ones you care about, and live life to the fullest.
