The death of a loved one can be one of the hardest things a person has to deal with. Making the final arrangements can be just as bad as learning about the death itself. The whole situation can be even more stressful when money is a concern. Luckily, funeral homes in North Miami Beach, FL offer services at all price points. Use the following tips to help you make final arrangements on a budget:
Consider Direct Cremation or Direct Burial
When you need to keep final expenses down, opting for direct cremation or direct burial is a good option. Direct cremation is the cheapest option, but direct burial also costs a lot less than a full funeral followed by a traditional burial service.
With direct cremation and direct burial, the body will be transferred to a funeral home or a crematory soon after death. The cremation or burial will occur shortly after. If you opt for direct cremation or direct burial, you can have a memorial service at a future date when money is not tight.
Skip the Expensive Casket
When you visit a funeral home, you will quickly notice that the price of caskets varies greatly. If you are trying to stretch your dollars while making final arrangements, there is no need to purchase the most expensive casket available.
If your loved one’s body is going to be cremated, you can purchase a very inexpensive casket made of pressed cardboard for a fraction of the cost of solid wood or metal casket. In the event that you want to do a viewing before the cremation, you will most likely be able to rent a casket from the funeral home for a nominal fee.
Opt-Out of Embalming
Embalming is the process of removing bodily fluids and replacing them with liquid chemicals to help preserve a deceased body. It is a complicated process that needs to be done by an experienced professional, so it is not surprising that it is expensive.
However, embalming is not required by law, so you can opt-out of this service. As long as burial or cremation takes place within a few days of a death, the body of the deceased should be fine if refrigerated at the funeral home.
Check Out Multiple Funeral Homes
When someone dies, it is tempting to just contact the first funeral home that you can find. But, when you’re working with a budget, it is well worth your time to explore your options. Just like any other business, the fees charged for services can vary from one funeral home to another.
Contacting several funeral homes in your area will help you secure the best prices possible. Funeral homes are required to provide price sheets upon request, so don’t be afraid to ask for price sheets from a few different places.
Being on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t fulfill your loved one’s final wishes. There are so many funeral homes in North Miami Beach, FL, so with a little effort, you will be able to stretch your budget and find a funeral home that you can afford.
