You can always handle everything yourself, without the services of a funeral provider. After all, this is what our ancestors did – and many cultures still do. These days, of course, it’s a bit more tricky; there are permits to obtain, and since it’s not as common a practice as it used to be, it’s harder to know exactly what to do. But there are plenty of valuable resources for people who want to care for and bury their dead themselves: for example, the book mentioned earlier, Caring for the Dead: Your Final Act of Love by Lisa Carlson, contains a comprehensive state-by-state list of required permits, how to get them, and when and where to file them. While handling all arrangements yourself is no doubt a time-consuming process, it can also be a labor of love – and markedly less expensive.
Funerals aren’t exactly the kind of get-togethers we enjoy planning for, but that’s one of the necessities of life (and death). By facing the reality, researching your options, and doing some scrupulous price comparisons, you can save yourself and your family a lot of money.