How to plan an affordable funeral: Tips for saving on funeral costs

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Life is expensive, but death is, too. The median cost of a funeral with a casket is more than $9,000 today, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. So it’s understandable if you’re looking for the cheapest funeral options.

In fact, let’s address the elephant in the room right away: If you’re looking for the cheapest death arrangements for somebody, it doesn’t mean you care for somebody any less if you want to save money. And if you’re looking for the cheapest burial options for yourself, that’s understandable, too. Life, as noted, is expensive.

Key Takeaways

Final expense insurance is an insurance policy that covers funeral and burial costs.
Unlike most other life insurance policies, final expense insurance doesn’t require a medical exam.
Many houses of worship will let you have a funeral or memorial service there for free or for a small fee.
If you don’t want to have a service or visitation at the funeral home, you can save money by choosing one that isn’t so close to your home.

Finding the cheapest funeral cost

So if you’re looking to save money on a cost of the funeral for, what are your options?

You do have some options, probably more than you think, but it will mean skipping some basic services found with traditional funeral services and burial.

“Most of us, even if we’re really savvy consumers in other areas of life, tend to forget it completely when it comes to funerals,” says Joshua Slocum, executive director of the nonprofit Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA).

You should determine your budget before you make final plans for yourself or a loved one, but don’t be fooled into thinking that more money always equals a better service.

“It’s easy to confuse money spent with the love and dignity shown,” says Slocum.

He says he’s been to funerals that lasted three days and funerals that were marked by a backyard barbecue. Both demonstrated how much family members and friends cared for the deceased.

Understanding funeral costs: Breaking down the expenses

Funeral costs have seen a moderate rise in recent years, according to a study by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA). The median expense for a funeral that includes both a casket and burial has gone up by 5.8% over the past two years, climbing from $7,848 to $8,300. Though this increase is relatively modest, it highlights the ongoing trend of rising expenses associated with traditional funeral services.

Cremation, often considered a more affordable alternative, has also seen an increase in costs. The NFDA reports that the median price for a funeral with cremation, which includes an alternative cremation casket and urn, has risen by 8.1% over the same period, from $5,810 to $6,280. Even with these price hikes, cremation remains a less expensive option compared to burial, making it a popular choice for families looking to manage funeral expenses.

Final expense insurance can help with cost of a funeral

Final expense insurance, also known as burial insurance, can cover the costs of end-of-life expenses, including funerals. These policies typically offer a smaller death benefit which can be used to pay for funeral services, burial or cremation, and other related costs. By having a final expense policy in place, families can avoid the financial burden of paying for a funeral out of pocket, ensuring that their loved one’s final arrangements are handled without creating financial stress.

One of the main advantages of final expense insurance is its accessibility. Many people who aren’t eligible for traditional life insurance can still get final expense insurance, making it easier for older individuals or those with severe medical conditions to qualify.

How to save on funeral costs

Planning a funeral can be an emotional and costly process, but there are ways to keep expenses manageable without sacrificing quality or dignity.

Choose cremation over burial

Choosing cremation over a traditional funeral with burial is one of the most effective ways to lower funeral costs. Cremation generally requires fewer services and materials, such as embalming and an expensive casket, which significantly reduces the overall expense. Additionally, cremation allows for more flexible memorial options, as families can hold a service at a later date or in a location of their choosing, often saving on the cost of a funeral home. With the median cost of cremation being thousands of dollars less than a burial, this option can provide a more affordable and still respectful way to honor your loved one.

Depending on where you live, you can find a cremation for as little as $700, says Joshua Slocum, executive director of the nonprofit Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA).

Prices can be higher in other places, but shopping around is a wise idea regardless of where you live.

“Choosing cremation over burial will save you thousands,” says Alison Johnston, CEO of EverLoved.com, a website that helps families plan and pay for funerals.

Direct or green burial

Direct or green burial is typically much cheaper than a traditional funeral because it involves fewer services and materials. Unlike conventional funerals, direct burials skip the embalming process and do not require expensive caskets, vaults, or elaborate ceremonies. Green burials also focus on simplicity and environmental sustainability, often using biodegradable materials and foregoing many of the costly additions associated with traditional burials. By eliminating these extra services, families can significantly reduce expenses while still providing a respectful and environmentally conscious final resting place for their loved ones.

Shop around

Johnston says people should ask for a funeral home’s general price list from several places to compare costs. Ask the funeral director for that list of funeral costs to find the most affordable funeral for what you want.

“Similar funeral homes in the same city can vary widely in price,” she says. “Just like any other major purchase, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare prices.”

Hold a nontraditional service

There’s no requirement that you have to have a formal visitation or graveside service or a traditional meal afterward.

Instead, consider holding a memorial service at a place that was important to the deceased. That may mean arranging a backyard barbecue or remembrance at the beach or on a mountain top.

Many houses of worship will allow you to have a funeral or memorial service there at no cost or for a minimal fee.

Donate body to science

If you’re planning an inexpensive funeral for yourself, you can donate your body to a medical school, where it can be used for teaching and research. The Federal Trade Commission says some medical schools pay for the body’s transportation and eventual cremation. In fact, some university medical schools have an annual memorial service for the loved ones of people who donated their body to science.

The ashes may be scattered at a university plot or may be returned to the family if requested.

Another option is donating your body to a mortuary school, where students learn how to embalm the body and prepare it for viewing. The body is typically cremated and returned to the family after this.

Get your funeral costs in writing

The FTC requires funeral homes to provide you with information on pricing so you can compare costs in advance of the funeral service. You can get this information over the phone, but you may prefer to visit the funeral homes and obtain written price lists if you’re comparing multiple options.

The FTC also provides a funeral checklist online, which can be helpful for ensuring you haven’t overlooked any funeral expenses.

VA benefits

If the deceased was a veteran, “veterans and their spouses can get free burial in a national or state veterans cemetery,” says Gail Rubin, president of Albuquerque’s Historic Fairview Cemetery nonprofit organization. This benefit extends to spouses, allowing them to be buried alongside the veteran at no additional cost

If you’re interested, Rubin says that you’ll need to get a DD214 form, indicating honorable discharge.

If you prefer a specific cemetery for yourself or a loved one instead of a veterans cemetery, you may still be eligible for partial reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help cover burial expenses.

While discussing affordable funeral arrangements isn’t easy, it’s possible to honor a loved one without overspending. Planning ahead, while you or a loved one are still healthy, is the best way to ensure a meaningful send-off without the emotional strain of last-minute decisions.

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Geoff Williams

Contributing Researcher

Geoff Williams is a freelance journalist and author in Loveland, Ohio. He has been writing about insurance and personal finance since the mid-2000s. His work has appeared in numerous publications, including Life magazine, Ladies’ Home Journal, The Washington Post, CNNMoney, Entrepreneur, Forbes.com and U.S. News & World Report.