The average cost of a funeral?

[luckyeight]

I luckily don't have much experience of costs for funerals. How much is the average funeral?

[loopyc]

my nans was around �3000.

[oldwoman]

My husbands going in a cardboard box with Gone But Not Forgotten on the side . Cost as little as possible

[crete]

why you old romantic you !

[sense4all]

Two thousand ish, twice, four and six years ago.Not fancy both the lowest cost coffin option.( as per their wishes.)

[luckyeight]

Surprised by these costs as well. Seems very steep just to get burned or buried.... I'd love to go out on a viking style pyre.... no costs, just illegal activity. Love the cardboard box idea. There is a lot of interest now in green or alternative funerals.... Which I think is a good thing. Ppl shouldnt' have to pay this much money to say goodbye to their loved ones. Or feel forced to have a church service that they might not want.

[CrazyDaisy80]

luckyeight
Some People make Provisions for their own Funeral in Life Policies, Will or Death Benficiary Scheme - before you spend, maybe to check that the Person definitely hasn't made Provision.
CrazyDaisy80
XxX

[PatriciaH]

Its emotional blackmail , you dont want to seem tight getting the cheapest deal do you?

[Buenchico]

There are some figures for the average costs of funerals, here:
http://www.ifishoulddie.co.uk/paying_for_a_fun eral.htm
Note the regional differences and remember that those figures are from 2000. (You probably need to add on at least 20% for current costs).

I used to write people's wills for a living. Lots of people requested something similar to what my own will states: "I desire that my body should be cremated without ceremony and that the ashes therefrom should be disposed of, also without ceremony, in any convenient dustbin or similar refuse receptacle". Annoyingly, even that will probably cost a four-figure sum!

Chris

[dot.hawkes]

My Mum's was dearer than Dad's cos we had two white horses and a glass hearse, we would have had to pay more for black horses as they would have had to come from Staffordshire. It was �800 for the horses and hearse i think. Then we had two cars as well. I did all the printed order of service for Mum and dad and found all the verses for the Hymns and psalms online. I did 20 service sheets on high grade card for the immediate family and then 100 paper copies for the rest of the mourners. They cost very little. The announcements in the Ormskirk Advertiser were quite expensive actually.

[B00]

The costs are frightening, I sincerely hope I don't kick the bucket any time soon- I can't ruddy afford it!

[crete]

dont worry once you are dead it is not your problem

[tradey]

my sister inlaw has just sorted her dads out and with flowers and everything else its cost just over �3000

[YvonneM]

My dad's funeral in February cost �1500 and that was with 2 cars but then we don't live in the south of England where everything is a rip off

[Morticiah]

Hi Luckyeight, Part 1 of an uber long response!

I do hope that you haven't suffered a bereavement, but if you have, then you have my deepest condolences.

Re: funeral costs. It depends on whether the funeral is a burial or a Cremation, and on the area in which you live.

Generally, Burials are much, much more expensive than a Cremation. If someone is going to be buried then you need to purchase a grave, and pay for the grave to be dug. In some area's (i.e.London) this could easily cost a couple of thousand. In more rural areas, it could be much cheaper. Sometimes families already own a grave, and you just have to pay to have the grave dug.

If you are having a Cremation then you have to pay for the Hospital/Doctors fees (approx �124.00ish for two Docs to certify cause of Death), then the Crematorium fee (varies between �250-�400+ depending on area).

On top of these fees people generally pay for some form of Religious/Non religious Service. CofE Funeral fees for a service at the Crematorium are approx �111.00ish. Services taken in a Church, or a Burial can be more.

The Funeral director will arrange and pay for all these services, and put them on your Bill.

ONLY then do you start paying for the Funeral Directors services .... *deep breath

ALL reputable Funeral Directors will break down their costs for you. A Funeral Package will generally include:

Arranging all necessary Paperwork,
Collecting the deceased from place of Death during Office hours (not out of hours - costs more to die at Home at 3am)
Coffin and viewing in Chapel of Rest,
Motor Hearse, (Horse Drawn is a huge supplement)
1 Limousine (if required - price reduction if not required)
4 Bearers to Carry the Coffin
1 Funeral Conductor

[Morticiah]

Part 2 - and then I promise to not answer anybody for at least 2 weeks!

Costs will vary from area to area, and dependant on the type of Coffin that you choose. All reputable Funeral Directors should be able to offer you a 'simple' or 'basic' Funeral. In my area (London) you are probably going to start at about �1300.00 plus the fees above) OUCH.

You will probably get a better choice from small family run companies rather than larger!

If a person is receiving benefits then they can sometimes get help with some of these costs.

Wow that was the longest answer I've ever done! Bet it was more info that you needed!

Mort

[nickmo]

Woodland burial - and I don't mean a spade and a bin bag job - �600 - �900

Eco friendly, all legal and respectful, available all round the UK. Cardboard cossins, wicker, shrouds - lots of options - and be honest, whats the point of a huge wooden casket when its under the ground or for cremation?

Info at : http://www.woodlandburials.co.uk and also : http://www.peacefunerals.co.uk

List of woodland sites here: http://www.uk-funerals.co.uk/green-funerals.ht ml and there are loads of useful sites round the web.

Barbara Cartland chose a cardboard coffin under an oak tree, so if its good enough for Babs.....

[nickmo]

Cossins??? I mean coffins......sorry