Funeral planning involves choosing between burial and cremation, selecting a funeral home, planning the service, and managing costs. Average funeral cost: $7,848 (burial) or $6,971 (cremation) according to NFDA.
12 steps across 2 sections
1. Steps Process
- Check for pre-arrangements — See if the deceased pre-planned or pre-paid.
- Choose a funeral home — Compare at least 2-3 homes. They must provide a General Price List (GPL) by phone or in person.
- Choose disposition — Burial, cremation, or alternative (green burial, body donation, aquamation).
- Select a casket or urn — Funeral homes sell caskets ($2,000-$10,000+) but you can purchase elsewhere. They cannot refuse outside caskets or charge handling fees.
- Plan the service — Visitation/viewing, funeral service (religious or secular), graveside service, memorial service, or celebration of life.
- Handle logistics — Cemetery plot or cremation niche, flowers, obituary, transportation, catering.
- Manage costs — Pay from life insurance, estate funds, or family contributions. Some states have burial assistance programs for low-income families.
2. Key Details
- FTC Funeral Rule: Funeral homes must provide itemized pricing, cannot require packages
- Embalming is NOT required by law in most cases
- You can purchase caskets online (Costco, Amazon) for significant savings
- VA burial benefits: Free burial in national cemetery for veterans, headstone, and flag
- Social Security death benefit: $255 for qualifying survivors
Common Mistakes
- Not shopping around (prices vary dramatically between funeral homes)
- Not knowing your rights under the Funeral Rule
- Overspending due to emotional pressure
- Not checking for veterans benefits
- Assuming embalming is required
Pro Tips
- The FTC Funeral Rule is your strongest tool — require the itemized General Pr...
- Costco caskets are often 50-70% cheaper than funeral home caskets
- Direct cremation is the most affordable option ($1,000-$3,000)
- Pre-planning your own funeral protects your family from emotional overspending