How to Pick out a Casket
Making funeral arrangements for a loved one can be difficult. While grieving you must make decisions that have serious emotional and financial repercussions. Among those decisions is picking a casket, probably the most expensive element of the funeral. Perhaps your loved one made the decision for you by telling you that he didn't want a big, expensive casket. But if that's not the case, breaking down your personal and financial priorities can make the decision less stressful.
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Instructions
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Instructions
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Set a budget. This is the single most important step in choosing the right casket. Understanding your price limit before even looking at a casket brochure will save you the stress of spending outside your budget and struggling to pay for other funeral or burial arrangements.
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Consider the preferences of your loved one. Would he prefer an industrial-looking stainless steel casket or a warm, hearty wooden casket? Budget is a factor here, as well. For example, a bronze casket is more expensive than steel, and a mahogany casket is more expensive than soft pine.
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Consult the funeral home director who is coordinating the service. She will help you choose an appropriate casket. As you look through the funeral home catalogs, remember that it is an industry like any other that seeks to turn a profit. While funeral directors are sympathetic, they also want you to spend a substantial amount of money. You are well within your rights as a consumer to ask for the lowest-priced options, and you shouldn't feel guilty for doing so. The amount of money you spend on a casket is in no way representative of the love and respect you have for the deceased. With that in mind, you can find a casket with all the necessary amenities--finish, handles and more--for as little as $250.
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Build a casket to save money. While doing so for another person's funeral is impractical on short notice, if you are choosing your own casket, you can build your own. This is an effective, albeit unconventional method of saving you or your surviving loved ones hundreds or even thousands of dollars. This is best reserved for the especially crafty, though. A casket is a major project for a first-time woodworker.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask your funeral director if the home is willing to repaint caskets. Sometimes less expensive caskets are displayed in unattractive colors to deter buyers.
