Did you know that Canada’s death rate stands at roughly 7.9%?
As much as we try to avoid thinking about it, death is a part of life. And with it comes expenses that can cripple any household’s financial standing.
Some families take years to recover from the financial strain of holding funerals. Most of them assume that a funeral must be expensive to commemorate their loved ones’ lives.
However, this does not have to be the case, as you can hold a lovely yet inexpensive service. Read on as we look at how to find the cheapest funeral options.
Research Your Funeral Home Options
Funeral homes are a lot like most typical businesses. They focus on different target markets and have varying prices for their services.
The majority of them market themselves as affordable, but keep in mind that affordability is relative. You’ll need to shop around to identify those within your budget range.
This doesn’t mean that you should opt for the obnoxiously cheap options. Keep in mind that the most important thing is to send your loved one off with dignity. The obnoxiously cheap ones may not provide the best tools to do so.
You’ll need to focus on reputation as well as price. How do online reviews portray the funeral home’s professionalism? Look elsewhere if your option has many negative reviews, as this could signal trouble.
Shop Outside of the Funeral Home
Many people don’t know that they don’t have to buy items like caskets from their chosen funeral homes. While buying everything from your funeral home may be convenient, it isn’t always cheap.
You can reduce funeral costs by buying some funeral items from third parties. You’d be surprised by some of the deals you can find only with a bit of research.
Most funeral homes will allow third-party items and only charge for taking care of the body. Be wary of those that restrict you to their products and services.
Research Your Burial Options
Society has conditioned most of us to only consider cemetery burials. After all, a cemetery burial allows those left behind to visit you as they please.
But, this isn’t the only available option for a burial service. Funeral homes also offer cremation services at lower rates than cemetery burials. You can always hold a celebration of life ceremony later on to memorialize your loved one.
Don’t restrict yourself to the traditional burial service.
Look for a Funeral Home Offering Direct Burials
A direct burial involves burying your loved one in the days immediately after death. It’s the most affordable burial option as it doesn’t include a formal funeral. It also doesn’t involve pre-funeral events, thus eliminating the need for embalming.
This option is also affordable because you don’t need a casket. You can have your loved one buried in a simple container since there’ll be no visitation or viewing. This is the perfect option for you if you don’t have the time or money to make funeral arrangements.
You can arrange for a simple graveside ceremony, but you may have to incur some extra expenses.
Consider a Green Funeral
Also known as an eco-friendly burial, a green funeral is a cheap and natural approach to burials. In this option, the body isn’t cremated or buried in a concrete vault, as is the case with traditional funerals.
Instead, funeral home attendants place the body in a biodegradable container. This allows it to decompose and become one with nature.
A green funeral honors nature as it also avoids embalming fluids and other chemicals. It’d be the perfect send-off for a person who was in tune with nature. Besides, it’s easy on the pockets since you don’t need a casket, a cemented gravesite, or embalming.
Hold the Service at a Religious or Community Center
Religious centers like churches, mosques, and synagogues are cheaper than funeral home halls. They’re worth considering if your departed loved one was religious. Holding services here saves you from incurring booking and hall preparation costs.
You can also use community centers if your loved one wasn’t religious or if you expect many attendees. Community center booking fees are lower than private hall booking fees. You may even get lucky and get a center for free, depending on your bond with the community.
Hold the Service at Home
You can also reduce funeral costs by opting for a home service. You don’t incur booking expenses with this option and can hold a more intimate send-off.
It’s an excellent option if you don’t expect to have many burial service attendees. A home service is perfect after a direct burial, as you get to celebrate your loved one while keeping costs down.
Consider Cremation
Canada has seen a rising interest in cremation over burials. In fact, experts project Canada’s cremation rate to be 76.8% by 2025.
Cremation eliminates the need for embalming, a casket, or any other pre-funeral arrangement. The only thing you need to buy is an urn if you’re planning on keeping your loved one’s ashes. Depending on your budget, you can buy the urn from your chosen funeral home or online.
If you intend to scatter your loved one’s ashes in nature, you can skip the urn entirely. Crematoriums provide ashes in cardboard boxes, so you don’t need to buy an urn you’ll throw away.
Consider Your Donation Options
You can reduce expenses by donating your loved one’s body to science in one of Canada’s medical schools. Doing this allows your loved one to support medical research and scientific advances.
However, this may not be the best option for people who’ve expressed their desire for traditional burials. Remember, the best way to honor your loved ones is by respecting their wishes. Only donate their body if they expressed interest in doing so before they died.
Learn the Cheapest Funeral Options to Save on Funeral Cost
This article has highlighted the cheapest funeral options available for you. You need to understand what each option entails before making your final decision. Ensure you choose an alternative that saves you money and honors your loved one’s last wishes.
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