How To Find Affordable Cremation And Burial Services
When a friend or loved one passes away, and you are left in charge of making the final arrangements – and paying for them – you may not be financially prepared. Naturally, you’d love to give the person a big sendoff, but might not be able to afford it. Then again, maybe you are trying to put together arrangements for your own cremation/burial in advance, so others don’t need to be burdened with it. But you want it to be affordable.
Affordable cremation and burial services are available. For starters, cremation typically costs less than burial. So, right off the bat, choosing cremation over other methods can be a money saver. The important thing to remember is that your budget is not a reflection of how much you cared for the deceased. You’re doing the best you can for them. If the farewell you put together is more affordable and less extravagant, that’s okay.
If you’re arranging your own cremation/funeral, choosing ways to save money will lighten your financial load. Putting the money aside in a special account, or paying for it in advance, will save anyone else from paying for your final farewell. Many of today’s cremation/funeral services will work with you to create this type of arrangement.
In your pursuit of discovering affordable cremation and burial services, taking the following information into consideration should be helpful.
Helpful Organizations
To help those struggling to pay funeral expenses, there are a number of organizations and charities:
- Veterans Affairs
- United Tissue Network
- American Red Cross
- Funeral Consumers Alliance
Check with the funeral home of your choice to see if they offer special considerations for veterans and/or infants – depending on the circumstances. For the record, American Heritage Cemetery Funeral Home Crematory does exactly that!
Social Security Benefits
Death benefits, in a small amount, may be paid if the person in question received Social Security.
Donate Your Body
Funeral costs will be sliced to nearly zero if the entire body is donated to medical science. In fact, all transportation/removal fees are paid by the facility when you remit custody of the deceased to them. This isn’t for everyone, but some people are happy and proud to have one last chance to help their fellow men and women.
Containers for Cremated Remains
Should you decide upon cremation, the urn you pick out to keep the ashes in can cost a considerable sum, depending on where you get it. If you have something from home in which you’d like the ashes placed, it can save a great deal of money.
Casket Considerations
When it comes to caskets, there are more selections than one can even imagine! Extras can include embroidered head panels, pillows, hidden drawers, special casket linings, etc. Don’t choose the most extravagant, expensive casket available if you’re trying to save money. (Remember, also consider cremation as a money saving alternative.)
Direct Burial
If, soon after death, the body is buried (or cremated) you may be able to skip embalming and other things like visitation, the wake, services, etc.
Make Price Comparisons
Though there isn’t always time, shopping around between funeral providers may help save a bit of money. They are running businesses, after all. Many will offer a “general price list” that they can either send to you, hand to you, or email to you.
Cremation, Funerals, Burials, and More on a Budget
Here at American Heritage Cemetery Funeral Home Crematory, we understand that no matter how grand an exit you may want to give someone, it’s not always in the budget. Should you be in need of affordable cremation and burial services, just let one of our representatives know and we will do everything we can to assist you.
If you need some help with affordable cremation or burial services, contact us today.
