Can’t Afford A Funeral? Here’s What You Can Do
Published January 13th, 2020
We all know that funeral services are expensive these days. And not all grieving families can afford to pay thousands of dollars to bury a relative. If you’re out of budget but still want your loved one to have a heartfelt and meaningful way to remember them by, here are other things you can do.
Direct Burial
The reason why a funeral service is expensive is that of the unnecessary process that takes place after death, such as embalming the body. In direct burial, the family can save thousands of dollars by eliminating embalming, viewing, as well as the visitation. You can also opt to have a plain casket for your deceased loved one to save a lot more money.
Direct Cremation
A direct cremation is almost similar to the standard cremation. The only difference is that direct cremation does not involve embalming, viewing, or visitation. The body will be cremated shortly after death. You have the option to keep the ashes, bury it, or scatter it at sea.
Whole-body Donation
Whole-body donation has become popular over the years. People are now choosing to donate their bodies to science because of its benefits. But mostly, because it can save you and your family the burden of paying thousands of dollars for a funeral or memorial service.
In fact, whole-body donation might be the best option if you really don’t have the money for a funeral. Why? Because the institution itself will handle all the fees related to the deceased funeral. From the transportation of the body up to cremation, all donation-related costs are covered. Most body donation institutions like DonorCure also take care of the expenses for getting a death certificate and returning the cremains to the family. In general, you won’t be paying for anything and do the world a great deed as well.
Check If Qualified for Veteran Burial Benefits
If eligible, veterans can receive burial benefits with an allowance of $300 for a non-service-connected death, while $2,000 for a death connected to military service. And the surviving family member can reimburse the burial allowance.
Veterans can also be buried in a national cemetery. The veteran administration will also cover the gravesite, headstones, as well as the maintenance of the grave.
Double-check Your Insurance Policy
Life or burial insurance saves the surviving family from financial stress, for it covers the costs of funeral expenses. So, check whether your dearly departed loved one had a life or burial insurance.
Consider Applying For A Loan
It’s always best not to owe anyone money to avoid a stressful financial obligation. However, at times like this, you can consider applying for a loan if you are comfortable with the idea of having debt. If you have a good credit score, you can get a loan from a local bank to pay for the burial.
Crowdfunding
There’s nothing wrong about asking donations through family and friends or even crowdfunding sites. Asking for contributions is a great way to bring the community together and support one another.
Interested In Our Company?
DonorCure is a company that connects body donors with the researchers who will use their contribution to further science and make the world a better place. Learn more about how to donate your body to science on our website and register online.
About The Author
As a nurse, Franchette Agatha Jardin firmly believes in the importance of understanding the human body and the advancement of science. She writes about what people can do for the betterment of the world and how everyone can be part of something great.
