Funeral preparations can be made now which will save your grieving loved ones a lot of trouble.
It's not pleasant to think about funerals, which is why many people die without having planned their own or made any provisions for one. When you are the one responsible for planning a loved ones' funeral, it can be a daunting task, especially since you are also dealing with the pain of the loss. Funeral directors are generally very kind and lead you through the process quite well, this is their job and they know how to make it as easy as possible. There are a few things however, that you should know in order to make everything run a little smoother.
Funeral homes will usually let you pay off the funeral expenses over time, they realize that people are usually not prepared for this sudden expense. However, any expenses charged by the cemetery need to be paid for up front and this can be quite a lot of money. For the most basic burial plot you will need anywhere from one to two thousand dollars up front in cash. Cemetary expenses include a vault, the plot itself and the labor of the grave being dug. A burial vault may be required in your state and can run in the neighborhood of a thousand dollars. If you decide on a mausoleum the cost can be enormous. Find out what costs need to be paid up front first so you know how much money your loved ones will need to have. Life insurance can take months to come through, don't assume that your life insurance is enough to take care of the funeral as there are up front expenses to consider.
Let your loved ones know, either in will or expressed verbally, where you wish to be buried, if you wish to be cremated, and if you wish to obtain a family plot. If you leave these things undecided it can cause added grief to your loved ones as they try to decide what you would have wanted and end up arguing amongst themselves. If possible, purchase your grave or mausoleum ahead of time, this will alleviate much of the indecision and paperwork.
Funerals can cost upwards of $5,000 which would be the most basic of funerals. Be sure to have enough savings or insurance to cover these costs or your survivors will have the burden of paying for your funeral which they perhaps can not afford to do. When we leave the expenses to those we love, we might not be buried or cremated in the way that we wanted, but in the way that they can afford. We have actually seen coffins made from cardboard and cloth which run for less than one-hundred dollars or the finest mahogany models can run into the thousands. Think about what you want and prepare for it or you may get the bargain basement funeral when the time comes.
