Here is a topic that most people want to avoid talking about: Funeral Planning.

Unfortunately, you most likely will be responsible for planning at least one funeral in your life. The loss may be a parent, a sister, a brother, a spouse or a child, or a friend. This person was so near and dear to your heart that you want to give them the best send-off possible. Regardless of whether you are dealing with a sudden loss or had a long goodbye with this person, planning a funeral while grieving a devastating loss will be extremely stressful, confusing, and heavy on the heart. With the emotions of the loss engulfing your mind, you may overlook the exorbitant costs of a funeral or pay for services that are not necessary for your funeral plan.

At this time, pause for a moment, take a deep breath and let’s avoid overpaying for funeral costs by comparing costs online.

Where to Begin?

When you start with an internet search of funeral costs, you will surely dive down into an endless rabbit hole of information. Religious beliefs may guide the path for the funeral planning or the deceased may have left a will with their funeral plan outlined. There are price lists, packages, add-ons, and various service options. Prices may vary by region.

If you do not know what questions to ask, the information may seem overwhelming. If you ask the right questions, you will be able to find viable options and make the best decision.

Here is a list of questions you will want to be answered:

• Did the deceased state in their will how they would prefer to be laid to rest? If not, identify the way you believe they would like to be laid to rest.
• Did the deceased want to be laid to rest with common funeral/afterlife practices depicted by their religion and/or place of worship?
• What are the basic costs for a funeral? Are there embellishments or upgrades that would add costs? Is there an itemized price list?
• Is there an all-inclusive funeral package? What does the package include? Are there any hidden fees or variable costs?
• Does the funeral home outsource the services or is everything done onsite?
• Did the deceased have life insurance or pre-plan for their own funeral costs?
• If not, what costs can you afford? What type of payment options are available? Are there payment plans available?

These are just a few of the questions that you need to answer while planning a funeral. Still, feeling overwhelmed? Do you want to make sure you are not missing anything important?

Additional Resources

There are additional online resources to guide you through the funeral planning process. For example, the website Lantern offers a platform where one can outline their own funeral planning wish, funeral planning checklists, industry information, and additional resources. Lantern explains average funeral costs under the Resources tab on their website. This is just one of the many great informational resources available by Lantern.

Don’t Overpay

Overpaying for funeral costs happens more frequently than you think. The person planning the funeral and processions may be filled with emotions and loss when planning and approving costs. It is natural to want the best for the deceased but without making smart decisions, the funeral planner may end up overextending themselves financially. By using Latern’s funeral planning checklists, you can streamline the process and keep your costs on target. It is best to compare funeral costs online and shop around for a funeral home that meets both the deceased’s funeral plan along with the budget.