Funeral costs

[NetSquirrel]

What is the least amount of money one can reasonably expect to pay to cover all the costs associated with dying? I'm only 18 so it would appear to be quite early to be thinking about this, but obviously when I die (hopefully many years from now) I want any savings I may have to go to charities or my family - not into covering ridiculous funeral bills.

Is there any way to cut out what I consider the unnecessary expenses? I don't need a coffin seeing as I will just go straight from my place of death to an operating table - for organ extraction or whatever - then what's left will be burned. And unless it is legally required, I don�t see the point in an extravagant funeral with flowers and singing and things like that. People will either remember me or they won�t, and I�d rather spare them a morbid day and have the funeral money donated to charity.

So, does this sound plausible? Of course I don�t want to insult or distress friends and family by skipping through the usual traditions, but they can hardly argue with one�s last wishes, can they?

[Alej]

Ive no doubt you could do it. Sounds like a very honourable way to deal with your death. I would have thought your family/friends would be proud of that.

[WoWo]

I think the key is to make those people who are likely do deal with the arrangments aware of your wishes. At the moment that may be your parents, then a spouse and finally children.

[Longman]

First off I wouldn't worry too much at the moment - you are only 18 after all! Sounds like a very worthy thing that you're after doing though it is worth bearing in mind that funerals are for the living rather than the dead and people that love you probably want to mark your eventual passing in some way.

[GuavaHalf]

You must remember that funerals are not for the person that died, they are for those left behind. I am sure that your family will want to carry out your wishes but please remember that it will be a difficult time for them and they may wish to treat your body with more dignity. A funeral does not have to be a morbid day. I quite enjoyed my father's in a strange sort of way as I met up with people I had not seen for a while. Remeber that an anagram of funeral is 'real fun'!!

[dorisday]

Providing you make your family aware of your wishes, you should have nothing to worry about. I plan to have a green funeral, thats a cardboard coffin, no flowers and my ashes scattered somewhere I have enjoyed going. This is all very morbid for someone so young. I admire you for thinking ahead. But you should be enjoying your life. If I was you, I would do a bit of research, write down exactley what you want done, Give the envelope to a relative or solicitor and forget about it. Just one final thought, alot of people these days seem to be having celebrations of life rather than funerals. I have been to one and they are still sad but more uplifting.

[NetSquirrel]

Thank you for your kind responses - you've offered me a lot of information and support and it means a lot to me. I do particularly like the idea of a "celebration of life" instead of a funeral. I suppose this could simply be a day for family and friends to get together, without reminders of someone's death always around them. They wouldn't even have to think about it if they didn't want to.

[Clanad]

You don't state whether you live in UK, however in the US you are or soon will be of legal age in most States. That means that you can set to paper a simple will stating your requirements. This can be a brief, simple statement witnessed by two or more people (signing and dating the document) and then assure that it's kept by someone who will see to it's use. Congratulations on your desire to donate your organs. Since you want to be cremated, the will should also state that a plain cardboard container should be used for the cremation, rather than a more expensive wooden or metal container. They are not required. Additonally, the container for the ashes that are then presented to the family or friends can be a simple cardboard or wooden box, rather than a more expensive urn. The submitter GuavaHalf is entirely correct that services are for survivors, so you can instruct them to get together, have some good food and each can talk about their remembrances. Hope this helps...

[zgma]

Cremation can also be expensive - you may want to dispense with it and just donate your whole body to science. Also, about services - this can be done very cheaply with no loss of quality for your family and friends. I had a friend who died, and the memorial service was in a local park (just needed to be reserved ahead of time, no cost or setup) and consisted of people talking about their memories of him... mostly very good memories of him that made all of us laugh with remembering him. This was probably the most memorable and meaningful funeral/memorial service I have attended.

[NetSquirrel]

Thank you - yet more things I never knew! I will be sure to save this page for reference.