How to cut funeral costs and getting financial help
- • Choose a direct cremation. This could save you thousands of pounds
- • Pick a cheaper coffin. Cardboard coffins start from around £150 and are better for the environment.
- • Don’t hire limousines. Ask people to make their own way to the funeral, if they can
- • Have the wake at home. This means you can avoid expensive venue hire.
- • Make the food yourself. Getting family and friends to make food for the wake saves the cost of hiring a caterer.
- • Skip embalming. It may be traditional, but there’s no need to get the body embalmed if you need to save money.
- • Don’t splurge on flowers. Flowers are nice but not necessary. Lots of people ask for a donation to charity instead.
- • Get friends and relatives to carry the coffin. This means you won’t have to pay for pallbearers.
There are a few ways you can get help with funeral costs. Ask your funeral director for advice. See if they have any options or accept any benefits that could help you.
There are also charities that may be able to help, like The Bereavement Trust. And it’s worth checking if you’re eligible for government funeral support. In rare circumstances, your local council may also be able to help with a Public Health Funeral.
Our business directory is a good place to start to find a company that can help with financing/borrowing or helping with Funerals.