How to plan a funeral on a budget

Lantern specializes in pre-planning and after-loss services, providing guidance and support for navigating life before and after a death. For eligible Haven Term policyholders, a full pre-plan premium membership and one-on-one post-loss consultation services are available at no cost through the Haven Life Plus rider, a suite of bonus services. Learn more here.

Disclaimer: Burial, cremation, and funerals are regulated by individual states and laws vary. Check with your funeral director or cremation service before making plans.

When a loved one dies, there are many reasons why you might want to keep costs down. You might not know the state of that loved one’s finances, for example, and what kind of legacy they left behind. (Like whether or not the person had a term life insurance policy, with a payout that can be used on funeral expenses, along with many, many other things.) Or you might know the state of your finances, and realize you can’t afford to overspend on a funeral. Or maybe you just don’t want to commit to an expensive funeral and then regret it when bills come due.

If so, you’re not alone in worrying about money during the immediate stages of grief—as funeral costs in America rise, families are now spending upwards of $10,000 for even fairly basic funerals.

Saving money on a funeral can be a challenge—you want to give your loved one the send-off they deserve, and it can feel hard to pinch pennies. But that doesn’t mean you have to mortgage the house, either—there are things you can do during the funeral planning process to ease the burden on your bank account. We asked the end-of-life-planning experts at Lantern for their advice. Here’s what they told us.

Know your rights

The Federal Trade Commission requires all funeral homes to keep an updated master price list on file and make it available to consumers upon request. Plenty of funeral homes make their master price list available online, too. Examine the list closely, and don’t feel bad about shopping around. While you might not end up going with the least expensive option, it’s worth getting a sense of what different funeral homes charge for similar services.

Bring your own supplies

One thing the FTC makes very clear is that funeral homes aren’t allowed to charge you extra for using a casket or urn you’ve purchased somewhere else. As long as it meets the requirements of your cemetery, you’re allowed to use it. Considering the markup on caskets, this is a great place to save money. Costco, for example, sells caskets at a fraction of the cost of funeral home prices. (We know it’s Costco, but avoid the urge to buy in bulk.)

If you’re opting for cremation, your options are even broader—any container that will hold cremains safely works.

Opt for direct burial or cremation

In addition to being the best options for the environment, direct burial and cremation are also significantly less expensive than funerals and burial ceremonies that involve embalming a body. Note: a direct burial is different from opting for a simple burial. A direct burial means the funeral director does the burial without the family present.

Don’t be afraid to customize

You may find, in working with a funeral home, that you don’t actually need all the bells and whistles they offer. One place it often makes sense to think about saving is the viewing—many funeral homes suggest four hours’ worth, while it might make sense to have only two.

Stay close to home

Rather than an expensive post-funeral event at a restaurant or event space, consider having a gathering at home. You’ll save on food and drink costs, especially if you ask guests to bring a dish or bottle of wine to share. If you feel bad asking, remember—people want to help, and in many cases will be grateful to you for including them.

Paying for flowers—don’t do it

Even if you don’t have any funeral at all, or expressly tell people not to send flowers, or text everyone you know a link to your loved one’s favorite charity, it’s a fact that some people will not be able to stop themselves from sending flowers or plants. Take advantage of this! If someone wants to send flowers, incorporate them into the funeral decor and then bring them along to the cemetery. There’s no reason for you to spend money on something so many other people will want to give you.