The things that the average person may not know about funerals are the things that can cost that person hundreds, even thousands, of dollars extra. Here are a few tricks of the funeral trade that can jack up the price:
To discourage customers from choosing cheaper casket models, some funeral homes will display them in ugly colors. In truth, the same caskets can be ordered in more desirable colors and shipped to the funeral provider within hours.
Similarly, some of the lower-priced casket models will be kept in an out-of-the-way location or even stored in the basement. Ask if there are any caskets not on display
Not all cemeteries require a grave liner or vault, so check with your cemetery of choice before buying one. If the cemetery you plan to use does require an outer burial container, grave liners are generally cheaper than vaults, and a basic concrete model will only be a couple hundred dollars as opposed to up to seven thousand dollars for the highest-end containers.
Guilt is a very common sales tactic used in the funeral industry. It’s easy for grieving family members to fall prey to such tactics when confronted with lines such as, “I know you want only the best for your loved one,” or, “Think of this as your last gift to your (mother, uncle, dear departed friend).” It’s hard to know how to respond to such a statement! The Funeral Consumers Alliance suggests responding with something like, “If I spent according to how much I care, I’d be penniless – I’d be paying you for the rest of my life!” Take a friend with you – preferably someone who wasn’t close to the deceased – to help you resist the sales pitches, and to remind you that you aren’t unloving if you choose a cheaper price.
Since there’s no body and no casket, most people who choose to be cremated also opt not to have the standard funeral service, which is another way to cut costs. (Or the money that would have gone to the funeral service is spent on a nice memorial or gathering for family and friends.)