Dearly beloved, we gather here today to remember that the funeral industry is a sales-based profession with tips and tricks like any other. Consumers often lower their guard in deference to the pain and reverence that accompanies funeral planning; yet just because you are bereaved, doesn’t mean you should be taken for a sap. Here are a few tips to keep funeral costs manageable:

Don’t Embalm: Embalming is a creation of the American funeral industry and serves no purpose whatsoever, preservative or otherwise. Don’t let any funeral director tell you that it is required by law. It isn’t.

Buy Direct: Funeral parlor coffins and headstones carry outrageous markups. Use the power of the internet to buy both directly from the manufacturers.

Buy Local: Where do you think the funeral parlors get their flowers? Go directly to the source and buy from your local florist.

The best way to save on a funeral is to plan ahead and resist the temptation to overspend, which often stems from pain and guilt, rather than any direct need for a lavish funeral.

If you have a morbid curiosity for more information, check out Jessica Mitford’s comprehensive examination of the funeral industry, The American Way of Death.

Burial Insurance [The Dollar Stretcher]
(Photo: ljcybergal)

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