If you’re thinking about planning your own funeral in advance, it’s important that you take time when making key decisions. An increasing number of people are choosing to pre-plan their funerals in advance. Reasons that might prompt you to plan ahead include:
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- Wanting to ease the burden on family
- Giving loved ones the comfort of knowing they carried out your final wishes
- Wanting to know more about a funeral plan
- Having a life-limiting illness and it feels like the right thing to do
- Wanting to guide those who will make arrangements in the future
Making decisions about what happens after you die is not easy. Planning your own funeral is not something everyone wants to do. However, having conversations and planning ahead can help those close to you celebrate your life in a meaningful way.
Here are some things you should consider when planning your funeral, including how to pay for your funeral and who to tell.
Planning Your Funeral
In general, people tend not to think about their funeral unless they’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness or are nearing the end of their lives. However, it is possible to start thinking about your funeral anytime.
Approach a funeral director if you want advice to help you plan, organise, and pay for your funeral.
Once you’ve decided what you want, let your loved ones know.
Things to Consider
There are various things you should consider when planning a funeral. They include the following:
- Whether you want to be buried or cremated
- Whether you have any preferences about how your body should be prepared
- Who do you want to take responsibility for organising the day
- Where do you want your ashes to be scattered if you want to be cremated?
- Who would you like to carry your coffin if you want to be buried?
- Where would you like your funeral to be?
- Who would you like to attend your funeral?
- Is there any special music you’d like played?
- Do you want any specific poems, readings, or prayers included in your funeral service?
- Who would you like to do readings or make speeches?
- Would you like there to be a dress code?
- Would you prefer flowers or donations to a charity of your choice?
- What would you like family and friends to do after your funeral?
- Do you want a wake, gathering, party, or memorial service?
Telling Others
If you don’t tell your friends and family about your wishes, how will they know what you want for your funeral? One option is to write your wishes down, making things easier for your loved ones to remember.
If you decide to make your funeral arrangements through a funeral director, ask them to send copies to your family or solicitor.
There is also the option to write your wishes in an advance care plan or advance statement. Such a document makes it easier for people to understand and follow your wishes in the future.
Alternatively, you can make your wishes known by writing them in your Will. However, this will be the only part of your Will that’s not binding. It’s advisable to make a separate copy of your wishes in case your Will is not discovered in time to organise your funeral.
Once you’ve decided what to do, make sure your wishes are safe and easy to find, and tell someone close to you where they are.
Paying for Your Funeral
It’s possible to put plans in place to pay for your funeral. That way, you’ll be helping your family and friends should there be delays in getting access to any money you’ve left.
Consider one of the following:
- Leaving money in your estate to cover funeral costs when you die. This means that the executor of your Will takes care of the funeral bill.
- Using a pre-paid funeral plan or insurance to pay for your funeral in advance.
If you decide not to take out a funeral plan or insurance and your loved ones can’t afford a funeral, there are options you can consider that will help to reduce funeral costs. Here are some suggestions:
- Cremation vs. burial service: Generally, a cremation will cost less than a burial, although it depends on your options.
- Your choice of funeral director: Funeral director fees play a significant part in the cost of a funeral, so it’s important you find the right one for you and your family.
- The cost of a memorial: Memorial costs can vary and add up because they can include fees for the material of the headstone, shape, design, and preparation.
- Travel to the funeral: To save on the cost of funeral transport, you could choose a hearse to transport your body and ask that the rest of the procession follow in their own vehicles.
- Catering at the wake: You can save money by providing your own catering rather than paying for a caterer.
