Death is hard to think about. But talking to a funeral home before you need one can help you and your family. Many people wait until someone dies to call a funeral home. This makes a hard time even harder.
What Funeral Homes Can Do For You
Funeral homes help with many things. They can:
- Plan the funeral service
- Help pick a casket or urn
- Write the obituary
- Handle legal papers
- Talk to the cemetery
- Help with flowers and music
John’s mom died in a car crash. No one knew what she wanted. The family fought about everything. Should they bury her or cremate her? What kind of service should they have? The funeral cost $12,000 because they made quick choices.
Money Matters
Funerals cost a lot of money. The average funeral costs $7,848, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. But prices can go up to $15,000 or more.
When you plan ahead, you can:
- Compare prices at different funeral homes
- Pay a little bit each month
- Lock in today’s prices
- Avoid making expensive choices when you’re sad
Making Hard Choices Easier
Maria’s husband had a heart attack at work. He was only 45 years old. Maria had never thought about funerals. She had to make 50 decisions in two days. What kind of casket? What flowers? What food for after the service?
Maria felt lost. She spent $15,000 because she didn’t know what else to do. Later, she learned she could have spent much less.
Your Family Will Thank You
Planning ahead helps your family in many ways:
Less Stress: Your family won’t have to guess what you want. They can focus on saying goodbye.
Less Fighting: Families often fight about funeral plans. When you write down your wishes, there’s less to argue about.
Less Debt: Funerals cost more when you plan them quickly. Your family won’t have to worry about money.
What You Can Plan Now
You can plan many things before you need them:
- Type of service (burial or cremation)
- Where to have the service
- What music to play
- Who should speak
- What clothes to wear
- What to put in the obituary
Tom planned his funeral when he was 60 years old. He was healthy but wanted to be ready. He picked out his casket and wrote his obituary. When he died at 78, his kids just had to make one phone call. Everything was ready.
Common Mistakes People Make
Many people make the same mistakes:
- Waiting too long: Don’t wait until someone is dying
- Not talking about it: Families need to discuss these things
- Assuming things: Don’t assume you know what someone wants
- Not writing it down: Put your plans on paper
- Forgetting about money: Know how much things cost
How to Start the Conversation
Talking about death is hard. But it’s important. Here are some ways to start:
- “I saw a news story about funeral costs. We should talk about this.”
- “I want to make sure you know what I want when I die.”
- “Let’s visit a funeral home together to learn about our options.”
Facts About Funeral Planning
- 60% of people die without any funeral plans
- Pre-planning can save families $2,000 to $5,000
- 40% of people change their minds about what they want
- Most funeral homes offer payment plans
- You can change your plans anytime
What Happens If You Don’t Plan
When you don’t plan ahead, your family faces many problems:
- They make choices based on emotion, not facts
- They spend more money than they need to
- They might not honor your true wishes
- They feel guilty about their decisions later
Lisa’s grandmother died without any plans. The family spent three days fighting about what to do. They ended up with a funeral that cost twice what they could afford. Worse, they weren’t sure it was what grandmother would have wanted.
Getting Started
Call a funeral home near you. Most will meet with you for free. Ask these questions:
- What services do you offer?
- How much do different options cost?
- Can I pay over time?
- Can I change my mind later?
- What paperwork do I need?
The Bottom Line
Planning your funeral ahead of time is one of the kindest things you can do for your family. It saves them money, stress, and arguments during a very hard time.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call a funeral home today. Ask questions. Make plans. Write everything down. Your family will be grateful you did.