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What Costs to Expect When Planning a
Funeral
By Amanda Broughton
For many families, a funeral is one of the largest
expenses they will incur throughout their lifetime next
to purchasing a house or a vehicle. When the time comes
to plan a funeral, the costs should be the least of your
concerns. There are many pricey aspects of a funeral
that you need to be aware of.
It is important to remember that funeral costs will vary
depending on the type of services you choose. A full
funeral, a memorial or a cremation are all options you
may want to consider. Costs will fluctuate depending on
how elaborate or simple you make the services.
Full Funeral Costs
For a full funeral, expenses can rapidly increase once
all products, services and cash advances are bought.
Here are the funeral costs you can expect when planning
a full funeral with a cemetery burial:
- Basic services fees charged by the funeral home
- Removal and transfer of remains to funeral home
- Embalming, make-up and clothing services
- Use of facilities and staff for viewing
- Use of facilities and staff for funeral ceremony
- Use of a hearse
- Use of a service car or van
- Cash advance items: cemetery fees, marker, newspaper
notice, minister and death certificates
- Casket
- Vault
Cash advance items are service items or merchandise that
the funeral home buys on your behalf. These usually
require payment in advance of the funeral because they
are needed in preparation of the services.
Memorial Service Alternative
A memorial service will help cut funeral costs because
it does not include the fees associated with a viewing
of the body. The memorial will usually happen after the
cremation or burial has been done. It isn't any less of
a funeral, and is sometimes the better option depending
on your circumstances. The memorial can be customized to
fit the style and interests of the loved one. This
option is a great way to pay your respects while also
staying within a budget.
Cremation
In 2008 the United States cremation rate was about 36%,
according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
This number continues to rise as more families opt for
cremation rather than a traditional burial. There are
many reasons why cremation is becoming more popular, one
of which is the cremation cost. An average burial
service will begin around $5,000 and continue to grow
from there. However, a funeral with a cremation will
lower that cost sometimes by one fifth. With such a low
cremation cost, this service is becoming an attractive
option.
Costs of cremation services include:
- Casket that the body will be cremated in
- Death Certificate and Permits
- Transportation of body
- Delivery of ashes
- Crematory Fees
- Cash Advance Items: newspaper notice and minister
Always remember that you can make the funeral or
cremation as elaborate or as simple as you want. You are
able to customize merchandise and services to keep the
funeral cost inside a budget that is affordable.
Obtaining quotes and doing research on more than one
funeral home is a smart idea. As with any other big
purchase in life, you want to make sure that you are
paying for quality services and getting the best deal.
If you are able to, consider preplanning your funeral to
make the process easier on your family in the future.
About Coats Funeral Home
Coats Funeral Home, founded in 1925 in Detroit,
Michigan, has remained a trusted and experienced
community resource. Today the Coats family and its staff
offer compassionate and personalized funeral services in
Waterford, Ortonville, and Clarkston. Visit http://www.CoatsFuneralHome.com
for details. |
