Did you know that arranging a funeral or cremation service can be as expensive as buying a new car? Traditional funeral homes offer services that can add up quickly, leaving grieving families with even more stress than they started out with. At Basic Funerals, our goal is to provide the families that we serve with low-cost, dignified funerals and cremations, not a mountain of debt. Want to know how to get the best service for less? Read on for all of the details.

Choose Direct Cremation
Direct cremation is as economical as it is straightforward. Typically, once the death has occurred the deceased is transferred into the care of the funeral home and subsequently brought to the crematorium. No service is held prior to the cremation and there is no need for a casket. Instead, a cardboard cremation container is used and the cremated remains are returned in a simple box. Families who choose cremation often bury or scatter the remains at a later date.

Hold A Memorial Service
Unlike a traditional funeral service, memorials don’t require the presence of a casket which significantly reduces costs. Caskets are expensive and the fees for the required staff presence can add up. Instead, consider holding a memorial service after the cremation has taken place. The cremated remains can be present in an urn or any other container of your choice and the venue can be as simple as a friend’s backyard or public park.

Have A Celebration Of Life
A celebration of life can take place at any time following a death. They’re a flexible, customizable, and very affordable way to pay tribute to a loved one. Typically there are no cremated remains present at a celebration of life, just a group of people who want to honour the deceased. Some families may choose to include pictures, music, or special mementos, depending on their preference.

Ask Questions
One of the easiest ways to save money when planning a funeral service or cremation is to ask questions. Make sure that you see a detailed funeral price list and if there’s anything that doesn’t seem clear, don’t be afraid to speak up. When making the first call to a funeral home, ask if the price that you’re quoted includes everything. Often families are surprised to find out that things like the cremation fee or transfer cost wasn’t included, leaving them with an unexpectedly high bill.

The post How To Cut Funeral Costs In Half appeared first on Basic Funerals.