Dying is not cheap.
You are going to die.
You should start planning for your funeral and burial.
Why?
What happens to your body after you pass can get expensive, according to a recent gobankingrates.com article titled “7 Money Secrets about Dying That No One Wants to Talk About.”
What do you need to consider in the opinion of this article?
Funerals are a lot of money.
On average, you will pay a funeral home about $6,000 for a service alone.
It costs an extra $2,000 to get you in the ground.
Marking the grave?
Between $1,000 and $2,000 for a headstone.
These bring you easily into five figures.
There are options to cut cost.
Planning ahead will save you money.
You can shop for the best price for what you want without being rushed.
Look online.
Compare costs.
Find a funeral home.
Your family will thank you.
Funeral packages will not necessarily save you money.
Often you do not need everything offered in a package.
You will essentially be paying for stuff you did not want.
Why do that?
Looking at wholesalers for caskets and grave markers instead of going through the funeral home will likely be cheaper.
A traditional funeral is not for everyone.
Cremation is much less expensive.
Up to $7,000 less expensive.
Huge difference.
You can prepay for your funeral.
Prepaying my not be the best idea for everyone.
Why?
You could pay more in premiums for the policy than what will be paid out at the time of death.
In short, you could lose money.
Every person is different.
You may have a specific vision for you desired funeral and burial.
What everyone has in common?
The need to plan ahead.
This will save your loved ones stress and money at an already difficult time.
Now, for my personal opinion when it comes to all things funeral.
All of that noted, there are some wonderful, salt-of-the-earth people in the funeral home business.
And it is a business.
As an estate planning attorney, I am more than well-familiar with what the families of my clients experience when it comes to funeral arrangements.
However, especially in smaller, rural communities the funeral director and his or her staff perform a wonderful and valuable service.
In fact, when they have provided respectful, loving care of your generations of your own family members, they actually become part of your family.
For example, Todd Schneider of Schneider Family Funeral Home & Crematory is just such a "member" of my extended family.
I am proud to call him "friend," too.
When it comes to every professional service in life - and even at death - you tend to get what you pay for.
When it comes to Todd Scheider, you really get even more than money can buy.
Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.
Reference: gobankingrates.com (March 14, 2017) “7 Money Secrets about Dying That No One Wants to Talk About”
Comments