How to Save Money on Funeral Expenses During a Recession

During my younger years I had several interesting jobs, one of them was working for a funeral home. What I learned there is that funeral homes are not shady car salesman trying to up sale you their products, funeral homes do not need to do this because they are counting on your emotions to do it for them. Local morgues around the country are finding themselves with more and more unclaimed bodies due to the current recession and prices of funeral costs. I hope that with my experience in the funeral business I can help you save money during a difficult and emotional time.

Things You'll Need

• Reason to prepare a funeral.
• Strength
• Budget
• Family and Friend support
• Time
• Phone
• Yellow book or computer

Instructions

1. Find out what your real budget will be, how much will family members will help with, did your loved one had life insurance? Insurance at work? Any type of insurance that will help cover funeral costs should be included in your budget before you do anything else. I know that this is a time for grieving but in order to give your love one a proper burial you must put those emotions on hold just for a little so you won't be taken to the cleaners.

2. Now that you know how much money you have in your hands, you must decide if your loved one wanted to be cremated or buried. If they did not leave any information in regards to this ask friends and family around you. If they are not aware then you must make the decision. Cremation is the cheapest way for burial but not everybody is comfortable with how is done. Again you must set aside your grief and think what is best with what you got.

3. Once your decision is made go to the yellow pages directory online or the physical book and find the funeral services and products, in there you will find that everything you need from caskets, plaques, cremations, urns and services can be purchased at wholesale prices. When you purchase from a funeral home you are paying retail prices, no matter the price it is retail. You can find the actual manufactures of the caskets and markers and buy it directly from them this can save you between 50% and 70% off retail prices, even Costco online sells caskets and funeral products.

4. Decide if you would like a viewing and a religious service for your loved one. If this is so contact your local church and find out if you can have those services there. Must churches do not charge for this service, but some do find out what the fee is and if it can be worked out in the budget. Also find out if the same bishop or pastor can do the grave side services

5. Take all this price information and go to your local funeral home, remember that this is the most critical time for you and you may want to take somebody who was not as close to your loved one that you were, this will help you make an unbiased decision. When people come to funeral homes to make arrangements for their loved ones they are full of grief, some anger others guilt and most likely want the best for their loved ones. Before you go there you must understand that nothing in the world will ever be the best for them, so you got to give them the best of what you can afford and your friend or family member can help you keep this in check.

   The funeral director will take you to his office and give you the prices for the packages they have, if you can afford them easily going with them will be convenient because they arrange everything for you, but if they are too expensive you can pick and choose which services you want them to handle for you and which one you will do on your own. You don't have to make a commitment right there, we know time is of the essence but you can have a few days to make all this happen.

Tips & Warnings

• try not to get overwhelmed if you need help get it.

• Don't let anybody talk you into something you don't want.

• when in doubt ask.

• Anybody tried to up sell you using your grief and emotions, walk out and never come back.

Resources

• Funeral Checklist