Affordable Funeral Options

There are several options to consider when seeking to purchase affordable flowers for a funeral. While it can certainly be helpful to shop around and compare prices among bouquets and arrangements, other practical methods for finding affordable funeral flowers can include:

• Requesting fewer flowers 
• Using seasonal flowers only 
• Purchasing artificial or silk flowers
• Purchasing from discount stores or grocery stores 
• Using more ferns and fillers 
• Ordering wholesale flowers or buying at a local wholesale flower market
• Remaining arrangements at funeral homes are offered for free
• Asking local funeral homes for remaining arrangements after a service

Requesting fewer flowers can be an initial method of saving money on the floral arrangement for a funeral. This is typically most effective when working directly with a florist and being transparent about the available budget for flowers. The decision to request fewer flowers can mean focusing on creating a smaller arrangement that is primarily composed of fewer blooms or using fewer flowers but increasing the amount of ferns and fillers used instead.

Selecting flowers that are in season also tends to be more affordable in comparison to those that are out of season. Most floral shops maintain a variety of arrangements appropriate for the season and are usually willing to swap out-of-season flowers with those that are in-season if there’s a particular arrangement style that you prefer.

If working directly with the floral shop remains too costly, a comparable option would be to purchase flowers from a local grocery store or discount store. While these arrangements are typically less personalized than what is available at a floral shop, they provide the opportunity to create your own memorable arrangement at a fraction of the price.

Artificial flowers or silk flowers can be affordable if you are willing to conduct some general price comparisons and consider the overall longevity of this option. The more affordable artificial and silk flowers are typically located at discount stores, whereas some of the more expensive variations are often found at craft stores. Artificial flowers hold an additional advantage over real flowers in that they can be repurposed as keepsakes after the funeral or memorial service.

If there is enough time before the funeral, a significantly cheaper method of acquiring funeral flowers is to order them wholesale or visit a local wholesale flower market. At these markets, you can often buy flowers at a deep discount without a resale license; simply ask the vendors at their booths if they allow public sales. There are also countless vendors available online that sell wholesale flowers at a highly discounted price, making it easy and affordable to purchase dozens or even hundreds of flowers for a beautiful arrangement.

Another potential option is to select flowers and blooms that typically tend to have lower prices. While some of these flowers, such as the lily, may not always be in season, most of them are readily available and are popular choices for funerals. Some cheaper flower options include:

• Daisies
• Carnations
• Lilies
• Freesia

Although finding the most affordable flowers can be time consuming and require some additional research, it can help you save hundreds of dollars during the funeral planning process. It is important to be mindful that lower priced flowers sometimes vary in quality, so exploring different options and comparing quality is crucial to achieve the ideal arrangement. With careful planning and selection, you can create a meaningful floral tribute for your loved one at a minimal price.

Sources

“What Are Some Cheap Options for Funeral Flowers?” The Flowers Directory. https://www.theflowersdirectory.com/products/what-are-some-cheap-options-for-funeral-flowers 

“Ways to Reduce Funeral Expenses”. Titan Casket. https://titancasket.com/pages/ways-to-reduce-funeral-expenses 

“How to Save Money on Funeral Flowers: 3 Smart Tips”. Veterans Funeral Care. https://veteransfuneralcare.com/blog/how-to-save-money-on-funeral-flowers-3-smart-tips 

Many houses of worship, including churches, mosques, temples and synagogues, hold funerals for those who worship there. Costs vary, so it’s a good idea to call around. Members of the clergy rarely charge a fee for conducting a service. However, an honorarium, either in the form of a direct payment to the officiant or a donation to the house of worship, is customary. 

Keep in mind, too, that if you choose direct cremation or immediate burial without a viewing, you can hold a funeral service at any location you choose. For example, you might consider a small gathering at a local restaurant for close friends and family, and host a larger gathering at a later time. 

See our Step-by-step  Planning Guides: Choosing Funeral Arrangements and Disposition and Memorial Service Ideas for more tips. You can also check out our e-book 7 Ways to Create a Memorable Celebration of Life ) 

While prices vary significantly depending on your location and specific needs, low-cost funerals typically range from $1,000 to $3,000. Direct cremation is the least expensive option, often ranging between $750 and $1,100 from a low-cost provider. Direct burial, while still an affordable option, can cost slightly more, averaging around $2,500, not including the price of a burial plot, casket, or grave marker — which can add several more thousand dollars of expense.

Direct cremation involves no formal ceremony or visitation. The deceased is cremated shortly after death. Direct burial is similar to direct cremation in that there will be no ceremony beforehand, and the deceased’s remains are buried without a viewing or service at the cemetery. However, you may consider holding a small graveside service rather than a traditional funeral or a memorial service or celebration of life sometime in the future when your budget allows. 

Green burial, an eco-friendlier burial alternative, is another option you may want to consider. While prices will differ from place to place, a green burial typically costs from $1,000 to $4,000. This price range generally accounts for the opening and closing of the grave, though it does not include transportation of the body. The cost of a green burial can also vary depending on numerous factors, like plot location, type of plot marker (if any), and the type of biodegradable casket or shroud used. In general, green burials tend to be less expensive than traditional funeral practices due to the lack of embalming, ornate caskets, and concrete burial vaults.

Sources 

“Looking for a “low cost” or even FREE cremation service?” US Funerals Online. https://www.us-funerals.com/low-cost-and-free-cremations/ 

“How Much Does a Direct Burial Cost?” Funeralocity. https://www.funeralocity.com/blog/how-much-does-a-direct-burial-cost/ 

“How Much Does Cremation Cost?” Choice Mutual. https://choicemutual.com/blog/cremation-cost/ 

“Green Burial Guide: Cost, Pros, & Cons to a Natural Burial” Final Expense Direct. https://finalexpensedirect.com/green-burial/ 

“Guide to Green Burial – A Natural Approach to Funerals”. Lincoln Heritage Funeral Advantage. https://www.lhlic.com/consumer-resources/green-burial/ 

No. When your loved one is cremated, the service provider will usually present you with the person’s ashes in a temporary container made of plastic or cardboard. If you’re scattering the ashes, this container may well be sufficient for your needs. However, if you want to keep the ashes in your home or distribute them among relatives, you will need one or more urns. But you do not have to buy these from the funeral home, nor can a funeral home charge you a fee for using a container you bought elsewhere, according to the Funeral Rule. Shop online for the best price. Then have the urn delivered to the funeral home or bring it with you when you pick up your loved one’s ashes if you don’t want to transfer the ashes yourself. 

For those who want an urn but lack the financial resources to buy one,  The Memorial Gallery in Gig Harbor, Washington, provides slightly blemished urns for free to families in need. The family only needs to cover shipping costs, which average about $12 to $15. The type of urns available vary; some are metal and some are wood. 

If you would like to take advantage of this generous offer, you may do so on the Memorial Gallery website or by calling 253-649-0567 or 1-877-996-URNS. Please let the company representative know if the urn is for a man, woman or child. 

Sources

“The FTC Funeral Rule”. Federal Trade Commission. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/ftc-funeral-rule 

“Free Funeral Alliance Slightly Blemished Urn”. Memorial Gallery. https://www.funeral-urn.com/free-funeral-alliance-slightly-blemished-urn.html 

The best way to save money on a casket is to shop around and make your choice before you or your loved one dies. The Funeral Rule requires that service providers give you a list of casket prices before taking you into the showroom. Use that list to decide how much you want to spend, and steer clear of the high-end caskets the funeral provider may encourage you to buy. 

As a general rule, caskets available from funeral service providers cost anywhere from about $1000 to $5,000 and up depending on the material, style and any accouterments you wish to add. Simple caskets made from inexpensive wood such as pine typically are among the least expensive as are those made from lightweight steel. Caskets made from exotic hardwoods such as mahogany cost considerably more, as do those made from stainless or heavy-weight steel, copper or bronze. Hardware such as metal handles and gaskets or decorative additions such as an engraved plaque will also add to the price. 

Probably the most economical way to shop for a casket is to avoid the funeral home altogether and buy from a casket retailer, either in a showroom or online. According to Kiplinger, funeral homes often mark up the price of a casket by as much as 300%, so it’s almost always possible to find a less costly alternative somewhere else. What’s more, the Funeral Rule prohibits a funeral home from adding a handling fee if you buy a casket from a different vendor. If they try to do so, contact your local chapter of the Funeral Consumer Alliance and file a complaint with the FTC. 

You can always build a casket or a coffin for yourself or a loved one. Although still a rarity here in the United States, building a simple wooden coffin that is suitable for burial or cremation is not very difficult if you have the right supplies. Northwood Caskets Company in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, offers a DIY coffin kit for $800, which includes a downloadable pdf and step by step instructions. Or if you are very handy, you can buy, cut and assemble the wood coffin yourself using the instructions provided on its website. 

Lastly, the cheapest option is to use a cardboard casket. Under federal law, a casket is not required if you choose cremation. Families may purchase an alternative container, such as an affordable cardboard casket, either online or through the funeral provider. For those planning a home funeral before cremation, a cardboard casket can be a meaningful and customizable option. Many families personalize the container by painting it with colors, illustrations, or designs, while others drape it with fabric to create a softer, more beautiful presentation for a home viewing. Keep in mind that hiring a home funeral guide can help you through the process of keeping the body at home till you are ready for the disposition.

Sources

“The Lowdown on Funeral Costs”. Kiplinger. https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/t021-c000-s001-the-lowdown-on-funeral-costs.html#HiI4cOwggMcqCQza.99 

Report Fraud or File a Complaint. Federal Trade Commission. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/