When it comes to loved ones, it’s a natural instinct to wave a price tag. What wouldn’t you pay to keep a friend or family member alive just one day? What expense wouldn’t you spare to leave an unforgettable lasting impression on grief-stricken funeral attendees? Understand that funerals are a time for mourning, but you must also be careful that your devastation doesn’t turn into financial hardship as well.

The National Funeral Directors Association said that the average US funeral costs a whopping $6,500! The AARP warns that once burial plot, flowers and other costs are factored in, that number could reach close to $10,000. However, dignified and cathartic funerals can be planned for less than $800, if the right options are considered. The first thing you should know is that funeral homes vary greatly in prices and types of services offered, so it’s smart to check around, instead of just snagging the nearest place.

Today, cremation is the choice for a third of all deaths. A 2007 survey of 170 funeral homes in Washington, found that the price for cremation ranged from $425 to over $2,800. A “direct cremation” is the least expensive and quickest way to handle the deceased, without viewings or a ceremony. A fair price for this process is around $600.

Ask if the cremation includes the transport of the body, or if there will be an additional “cremation fee” (which may cost an extra $200 or so). Caskets and embalming are not necessary for the cremated. If you choose a viewing prior to cremation, you can often rent a coffin.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, January 5th, 2008 at 6:09 pm and is filed under News & Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.