Cost of Funeral vs Cremation

When finding out a loved one has died, the number one question is the cost of funeral vs cremation. The shock of finding out a family member is so alarming and overwhelming. Even in this emotional condition of mourning, you are burdened with the funeral arrangements. The decision in front of you is the cost of funeral vs cremation. Here is some information to help make a truly informed decision.

FUNERAL

The funeral process is sending the body of the deceased to the funeral home. There are funeral [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-ways-memorable-funeral-cheap-143016319.html] services to pay for and a transportation fee to get the body to the funeral home. The embalming procedure is another fee. The rest of the fees that you will have to pay is buying a casket for your loved one and paying for a cemetery plot. More additional fees for a burial service and a viewing at the funeral home and private viewing separately than the group viewing is additional fees if necessary.
The cost of a funeral in 2021 on average is $7,000 to $9,000 for basic services, cheap casket, and no burial site service. To protect the public at a fragile time The Federal Trade Commission [https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0300-ftc-funeral-rule] (FTC) produced in 1984 came up with the Funeral Rule which gives the right to buy the services they want and not being pressured to pay for the complete funeral package with items listed you don’t want. Additional rights were issued such as:

• An itemized statement listing all charges.
• Being allowed to receive the price information over the phone.
• More funeral cost choices make it simpler and easier to make arrangements for a funeral.
• Costs vary by state, Hawaii being the most expensive $14,975 through the least expensive state to be Mississippi at $8,121 in 2021.

CREMATION

The cost of funeral vs cremation is complex. Here are the facts for a process of cremation [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cremation] so people can make an informed decision. Cremation is a far cheaper cost in legally disposing of the dead. Cremation is one-third of the price of a funeral. There are no costs for viewing services because you can choose not to have the urn viewed. No cost for a casket or a cemetery plot to reserve and purchase. No viewing at the gravesite or service charges. No embalming unless insisted by the funeral home, it depends where you are going to go.
A very simple memorial service and the cost of cremation will be about $1,600 and without a memorial service, the cost is about $600 to $1,000.

PERSONAL DECISION

The cost of funeral vs cremation is a personal choice. Depending on your financial situation and preferences. Cremation is by far cheaper than a funeral and simpler. For people who are strapped financially or don’t have life insurance coming in to help financially. No matter the decision to proceed, there are options to consider, and being educated on those options will make it easier. Giving a less stressful decision you won’t regret.

REFERENCES:

https://www.cremationassociation.org/page/Consumers