Funeral Home Fee:
The basic service fee that a funeral home charge is typically around $2,000. This fee usually includes the viewing for family and friends, as well as the burial. Many funeral homes offer a variety of packages, each of which includes different things. You’ll want to learn about all of the different options that each place offers when shopping around. It is highly recommended that you purchase insurance for burial with the most affordable policies available so that no huge expenses are incurred upon any of your family members at the time of the funeral.
Casket:
Those who decide to go the burial route when planning a funeral will need to pay for a casket. A very basic metal casket costs approximately $2,000. Most funeral homes offer lots of extras that aren’t necessary and inflate the price considerably. Make sure that you understand what your casket options are before deciding on anything in particular.
There is also the vault, which is put around the casket to keep it from becoming severely damaged over time. Also referred to as grave liners, most cemeteries require these for each person who is buried. A vault will most likely cost you about $1,400.
Flowers:
The flowers that you have at the funeral service can range from $300 to $700, depending on which ones you pick. Take the time to look into some of the different businesses that do flower arrangements for funerals. This is a great way to keep costs down when you are going about planning a funeral.
Embalming:
Many people choose to have their deceased loved ones embalmed, which preserves their remains. The average cost of this particular service is around $700, though some places charge more. It is unlikely that you will be legally obligated to pay for this service, though it depends on where you live.
Hearse:
There is also the cost of having your loved one’s body transported from the funeral home to the burial site via hearse. This transportation service typically costs a few hundred dollars, and it is necessary if you opt for burial as opposed to cremation.
Cremation:
If you have decided to have your loved one cremated, there will be a standard fee of around $300. This is significantly cheaper than a burial, so you’ll save a lot of money. You can choose to buy an urn to put their remains in, which costs at least $250. There is also the option of using a container of your own for the ashes. There is no charge if you choose to supply your own urn.
Transportation:
You can choose to hire transportation to take you to and from the funeral, which costs around $150. This particular service is completely optional and not typically utilized. If you have any family or friends who can drive you, it is not worth paying for this.
Body Preparation:
The hairdressing and makeup services that funeral homes offer usually cost a bit over $200. This will ensure that your loved one is presented in the most dignified way possible for viewing.
Printing Services:
If you are going to have a funeral home service for your loved one, you’ll probably have to pay for printing services. This includes any pamphlets or prayer cards that you want to be made up. These will be available to everyone who attends the service at the funeral home.
Burial Plot:
The average cost of a burial plot is about $2,000, though it varies depending on the cemetery and specific area you choose. If you want to have your loved one buried in a private cemetery, you’ll have to pay significantly more for a plot.
Headstone:
There is also the headstone itself, which costs at least a couple hundred dollars. There are tons of different grave markers that you will be able to choose from. You can get anything from a humble tombstone to a large statue placed at the gravesite. The total amount that you pay will depend on the size and material of the marker. There are definitely some options that are more expensive than others.
Conclusion:
Planning a funeral might not be a joyous occasion where friends, relatives and neighbours gather together in a happy union. But it always bodes well when you have the scene of the funeral chalked out, and the costs all worked out. This could help you in managing the expenses better and deal with grief without the omnipresent and overhanging burden of funeral expenses.
