How the Cost of Dying Impacts the Cost of Living
The cost of dying is not something that many people like to discuss, yet it is possible that leaving this world might be a person’s last huge expense.
Sadly, the cost of burials and cremations often fall upon families who may not be prepared for handling the expenses.
Understanding the costs that are associated with dying helps you make choices that can improve you or your family’s chances of being able to get through a rough time without losing too much money.
Prevent Overspending During a Time of Grief
Families are often called upon to make rapid decisions during a time when they are distracted by grief.
You may not care about what type of casket you are buried in, but your family might feel the need to go all out.
Sadly, this can sometimes cause families to go into debt to make things feel right.
With pre-planning services, you can outline exactly what you want.
This helps to keep costs lower so that your family doesn’t overdo it out of a sense of loyalty.
Take Financial Responsibility for Your Burial or Cremation
One option that many people find preferable for funeral planning is to pre-fund the services.
For example, some funeral homes like Damar Kaminiski Funeral Home & Crematorium offer you the chance to pay for your arrangements before you pass away.
This option allows your family to focus on moving past their grief rather than trying to figure out who or how they will cover the costs of your final arrangements.
Work with a Full-Service Funeral Home and Crematorium
Some funeral services outsource some of their services, and this can naturally increase the cost as well as the burden of waiting that exists for families.
Working with full-service funeral home and crematorium allows you to avoid unnecessary extra costs such as paying for the transportation of your loved one’s remains from one place to another.
Instead, you can make sure that they are treated with the respect that they deserve by the people that you meet with in person.
Choose Flexible Options for Funerals and Memorials
The cost of a funeral increases with every song, decoration and hour that you use a facility.
The cost of dying can actually vary significantly depending upon how someone prefers to be memorialized.
Families who are worried about the impact of a death on their cost of living can choose from options such as a graveside service that allow them to say their goodbyes respectfully but without breaking their budget.
As with many other services in life, the cost of funerals and cremations goes up with the cost of living.
Caskets, urns and personal services can be costlier over time, but pre-funding your funeral or cremation allows you to lock in lower rates.
Many bereaved families often find that their loved one’s pre-planning was a final gift that helped them overcome financial hurdles during their grief.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
Category: Family Finances