The United States Funeral industry generates more than $20 billion each year. Although a funeral may sometimes be an afterthought, planning for your funeral is worthwhile to alleviate the potential stress to your loved ones.

In an effort to maximize on some of the market share, certain companies are coming up with new and unique ways of “burying” loved ones. Some individuals may regard it as morbid to discuss death or your own funeral before the end of life draws near.

Even if it seems morbid, if you choose to make essential decisions about your funeral now, you may move on to live your life, and not have to dwell on the matter again. This also gives you peace of mind because your loved ones will not have to deal with as many difficult repercussions after your passing.

You’ll have alleviated the stress that planning a funeral can mean for your loved ones, and allowed them more space just to grieve.

Traditional Funeral

A traditional funeral in the US typically costs, on average, $10,000. This amount tends to cover the funeral home expenses, viewing, preparation, and Burial.

This sum does not include the burial plot, headstone, flowers, or obituary. The cost of these may substantially increase the overall cost of a funeral; with those extras, the price tag might balloon by at least another $5,000.

The number depends on the location, quality, size, and flower choices. It should be no surprise, then, that funeral homes account for more than $15 billion of the funeral market.

If you plan your funeral, the budget is a vital consideration. You don’t wish to overburden your loved ones.

Many individuals purchase life insurance to help cover the cost of their funeral. Additional things you can do to defray funeral expenses is to create a funeral fund, for which you set up an automatic payment that accumulates money over time.

In the event of your death, it will provide money that gives your loved ones the means to pay for your funeral expenses.

Cremation

Another burial method that is chosen by many is Cremation. The average cost for only a direct cremation is $1,000 on average in the United States.

That does not include any of the other expenses, such as flowers and viewing–merely the cremation itself. A direct cremation cuts out all the in-between, while a cremation with funeral may cost roughly $6,000.

The advantage of a cremation is that you can choose a variety of options for the ultimate fate of your ash remains. Some of the more traditional choices involve holding the ashes in an urn, to keep in someone’s home; arranging to have your ashes scattered at a location that’s significant or precious to you; or choosing some other disposition for your remains.

Tree Burial. One ultimate destination for your ash remains could be a tree burial. A tree burial places the ashes from your cremation and in the pod of a new tree sapling. This is a highly environmentally conscious choice, one that helps to replenish and improve the environment. On average, the cost of tree burial ranges from $1,000 to $2,000. This strictly covers the cost of cremation and price of the burial tree pod which might range in value between $100 and $400. This amount does not include a viewing or any additional steps you might wish to include at your funeral. 

Diamond. Similar to diamonds made in labs, you could have diamonds made from the carbon remains in your ashes. Then the resulting gem can be fashioned into a variety of jewelry options, and passed down from one generation to the next. Instead of wearing your grandmother’s vintage diamond ring, you can wear your grandmother and her vintage jewelry set. That would truly be an heirloom piece. The cost of these diamonds comes in a broad range of pricing options, depending on the size and setting of your stone. The price of the stone can range from $750 for a small one to $17,000 for a two-carat stone.

Conclusion

There are many different options to examine when you plan your own funeral. When you decide on what you want, it’s essential to put it in writing, and make sure the proper funds will be available to help cover the cost.

By planning ahead for end-of-life expenses, you will set some limits to the stress and grief your loved ones experience, no matter which route you choose to take.

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