Planning a funeral is never easy, and the associated costs and payments can unfortunately add another level of stress. There are lots of factors that can influence the overall price, and understanding these expenses can help you make a more informed decision. A dignified farewell is completely possible while staying within your financial means, so let’s have a look at the key elements of funeral costs and various payment options that may be available to you.
Basic Funeral Costs
Funeral costs tend to fall into three main categories: basic services, burial or cremation fees, and optional expenses. Let’s have a look at those in further detail.
1. Funeral Director’s basic fee
This covers all the essential services such as guidance on all the necessary documentation and paperwork that needs to be completed, transportation of the deceased from the place of death to the funeral home, care and preparation of the body, and organising the funeral ceremony.
This fee forms the core of the funeral expenses, and will vary depending on the location and the funeral director chosen. Typically this part of the funeral will cost upwards of £2,000.
2. Burial or cremation fees
This is the second major expense, and if you are looking to cut down on costs then a cremation tends to be cheaper.
● Burial: this factors in the cost of the grave plot, the interment fee, and the fee for maintaining the cemetery grounds. Again this varies in price and can be anywhere from £2,000 to £6,000 depending on the location.
● Cremation: this includes the use of the crematorium and any related services, and the price tends to range from £600 - £900 in the UK.
3. Optional costs
Additional costs are usually due to the family’s personal preferences and includes things like the following:
● Coffin or casket: the price of these can vary hugely depending on the material used and any personal finishes that are added to the coffin. Prices tend to start at around £200.
● Floral arrangements, programmes, obituary notices: these can cost a few hundred pounds depending on how customised they need to be.
● Venue hire and catering: if a wake is organised following the service, venue and catering fees need to be taken into consideration and can start from around £500.
● Transportation: the price of this depends on the length of the travel, but limousine hire or a horse-drawn carriage can add over £500 onto the overall funeral costs.
Types of Funerals & Their Costs
1.Traditional funerals
These tend to involve a viewing, funeral ceremony, and a graveside service. Traditional funerals are the most expensive option mainly because they involve the organisation of more logistics such as transport and facility hire. Costs range from £3000-£6000 depending on the options selected.
2. Direct cremation or burial
This is becoming a much more popular option as costs are significantly reduced. A direct cremation or burial doesn’t have a funeral ceremony, the body is cremated or buried shortly
after death. Families tend to have a private memorial at a later date. Direct cremations or burials range in price from £1000-£1500.
3. Green or eco-friendly funerals
Eco-friendly funerals are also proving to be more popular, and involve the use of biodegradable coffins and remove the embalming process where chemicals are used. The body may be buried in a woodland or a designated eco-friendly area. These plots can sometimes be more expensive than a standard burial plot, again it all depends on the location.
Financial Support for Funeral Costs
The cost of a funeral can be quite scary, but there are options if you are in need of financial support. In the UK specifically, there are 2 schemes that can help:
1. Funeral expenses payment - this government support for people who are on low income or benefits. Eligible claimants can receive a grant to pay for burial or cremation fees along with transport and some essential services. This is usually a fixed grant and may not cover the entire funeral costs.
2. Bereavement support payment - for widows, widowers and civil partners, this payment provides financial support to help cover living costs following the death of a spouse. Although it won’t directly cover funeral expenses, it can provide some financial relief in the months following a death.
Pre-Payment & Funeral Plans
Funeral plans allow individuals to pay for their funeral in advance, taking the pressure off family when the time comes. This involves paying a set amount of money upfront or in installments to cover basic services, the funeral director’s fees and burial or cremation fees. These not only provide peace of mind but also protect against future price increases.
Life insurance policies can also help to cover funeral expenses. Some policies provide a lump-sum payment upon death, while others have different options - it depends on the terms and conditions.
Planning a funeral involves lots of hard decisions, but by being aware of the funeral costs and payment options, families can create services that their loved one would be proud of. For more personalised information on funeral costs, get in touch with the team at Jason Threadgold Funeral Directors today.
