What kind of funeral can you afford?

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What kind of funeral

 

Budget funerals initiative to help people on welfare payments

As they say, there are only two certainties in life – death and taxes. And while neither are a pleasant thought, both cost us a lot of money!

Nowadays a standard funeral will set you back around $10,000. That’s not the sort of pocket change that most of us have lying around! High funeral costs can be a real shock to grieving families and it’s therefore no surprise that money worries trouble many people’s minds when farewelling a loved one.

  • When you’re already short on cash or living on welfare payments, meeting funeral expenses can be a near impossibility and create a lot of additional stress.
  • A new community based initiative aims to remove this cash stress so grieving families can instead focus on farewelling their loved one.

Tender Funerals can help provide low budget funerals for those who are unable to meet the high costs of a standard funeral. This not-for-profit, community run funeral parlour in the Wollongong area aims to offer funeral services at a fraction of their usual price.

Supported by funding from community donations, Tender Funerals hopes to be up and running later this year. Low income families and those on welfare payments can approach them for assistance, taking the financial stress out of the grieving process.

Here’s some of the costs you need to consider when arranging a funeral:

  • Funeral director fees – don’t be afraid to negotiate.
  • Transport – consider whether you really need expensive hire cars for family.
  • Coffin – be sure to ask for information on the least expensive options before making any decisions.
  • Death certificate and permits
  • Cremation fees, or cemetery plot and burial fees
  • Other expenses, such as a celebrant or clergy, flowers, newspaper notices and the wake

Some other budget-saving funeral tips

  • Get a friend to type up and print your service booklets. There’s lots of good free samples online that you can choose from.
  • Don’t pay for expensive newspaper classified advertising. Use free online death notices, as well as others like email and social media for communicating death and funeral notices.
  • If you have a friend who’s a musician or is savvy with creating a play list, ask them to take care of the music for your funeral service.
  • Save on hefty catering bills by asking a few friends to make a plate or two of sandwiches and refreshments for the wake.

By using the help and support available in your community, you can free yourself from the potential financial burden of a funeral, enabling you to focus on celebrating the life of your loved one, and giving them a meaningful farewell.