Are you planning for your own or someone else’s end-of-life ceremony? You might be trying to figure out whether cremation is the right choice.
The cost to cremate a person goes into this decision. Everyone knows that funerals aren’t cheap, but how much does cremation cost in comparison to a burial?
We’re here to talk about it. Keep reading to learn more.
What Goes Into the Cost to Cremate a Person?
So what does cremation cost? Overall, the average cost of cremation (including related services) can range from $2,000 to $4,000, but there are outliers on either side.
This might seem steep, but cremation costs aren’t just the actual process of cremating the body. The cremation itself often costs only several hundred dollars, but remember that there’s more to cremation.
If you choose to have a funeral or burial (you can bury ashes), you’re going to need to pay extra fees. Funerals are expensive (often several thousand dollars), but they’re worth it to honor your loved one.
You need to pay the staff involved in the cremation and funeral as well as the cost of preparing the body for a viewing and the funeral home cost. You also need to pay for the transferral of the body.
Finally, you need to pay for the urn. Often, good cremation services will offer you a free temporary container if you want to find your own container later. This lowers the cremation cost.
Is It the Cheapest Option?
Cremation is more affordable than a traditional burial. While you have to purchase an urn, urns are less expensive than caskets. This brings the cost down by several hundred to several thousand dollars (depending on the casket that you’re interested in).
That said, cremation is still expensive. You will need to plan ahead. The most affordable option is donating a body to science and you can still have a viewing as long as you don’t embalm the body.
Many people are uncomfortable with this option and prefer a more traditional method.
How to Plan
So with this in mind, how do you gather the funds for a funeral and cremation?
It’s helpful for elderly people to plan their funerals ahead of time, even if it seems morbid. This way, the burden of paying for these things isn’t on the loved ones.
If possible, put aside a small amount of money each month for your end-of-life plans. Sometimes life insurance policies can also help with your end-of-life costs.
If the death was unexpected, see if the person had life insurance. If you can’t pay out of pocket, consider crowdfunding money so you can lay your loved one to rest.
Is Cremation Right for Your Situation?
There are several possible methods for putting yourself or your loved one to rest. Is cremation the right choice?
The cost to cremate a person isn’t cheap, but it is more affordable than traditional burials, even with all of the added fees. Use this guide to determine whether or not it’s right for you.
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