Let’s face it. Using the word ‘cheap’ to describe a funeral does not sound very dignified or respectful. To some people, they believe that if you don’t spend a lot of money on a funeral, then you didn’t really love that person much in the first place.
Of course, this could not be further from the truth.
There are many reasons why a family may want to host an affordable funeral. The deceased may not have arranged a pre-paid funeral. They may not have had a lot of savings to pass on after their death. Or perhaps they made a request in their Will asking the family to not host an expensive funeral.
Whatever the reason is, you’ll be glad to know that many funeral homes are starting to offer cost-effective plans to ease the burden from grieving families. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular options and how they can suit your personal needs.
If you need caring advice from a trusted funeral director, call Funerals of Compassion on our 24-hour number at 1300 906 060.
Cremation – No Service, No Attendance
Cremation is the process of turning the remains of a deceased person into ashes through the use of extreme heat.
In Australia the average cost of a cremation is around $7,000. However, this cost estimate comes with a number of extras that you do not need to have. If you want to save money you can skip the choice to bury the urn or extras like professional flower arrangements, newspaper notices and stationary.
For even greater savings you can choose to have a ‘No Service, No Attendance’ cremation. This is when the family decides not to hold a funeral, and simply let the funeral home to take care of the cremation and return the ashes to the family.
True, you can save a lot of money this way. But the downside is the family may not get the closure they want and will miss out on their chance to say goodbye. Fortunately, there are other ways you can host a cheap funeral service to remember your lost loved one.
Memorial Service
In place of a traditional funeral, you can host a service to memorialise the deceased with their body not present. The great thing about a memorial service is they are less formal than a standard funeral. You can host one at any time after a loved one passes away – in any location you want – and they can be much cheaper too.
How you plan a memorial service is entirely up to you, or the personal wishes of the deceased. You may want to have a service in a place of significance such as your favourite secluded beach, public park, or even in your own home. As there is no formal structure, you can choose to have a simple service with readings and prayers, or have live music and singing.
For a DIY affair you can ask the service guests to bring their own food, tables, chairs and transport. However, if you want to avoid having to prepare food, find the right venue and arranging transport – the fully-fledged services of a funeral home will save you a lot of time and hassle.
Donate Your Body to Science
Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of donating their body to science. There may also be cultural or religious beliefs that prohibit this practice entirely. However, there are positive merits to this idea.
For starters, when a body is donated to a medical institute or University program, it is used to provide education and training for upcoming health professionals. And you can be rest assured each body is treated with utmost care and respect.
Furthermore, after the program is complete, the body is cremated and the ashes are returned to the family to commemorate their loved one. All of this comes at no cost to you at all! Plus, you can still host a beautiful memorial service without having the body present too.
Of course, there are some caveats to think about. When you donate a body to science, they might hold onto the body for several months of even years, depending on the institute you choose.
Also, the body has to meet some strict medical requirements to be accepted. If the institute is at full-capacity or the cause of death was due to a significant disease, it may be disqualified.
If you want to plan a cheap funeral and need caring advice, talk to a trusted funeral director today. Call the Funerals of Compassion 24-hour number on 1300 906 060.
