Consumer Blog
How much will my funeral cost?
The funeral industry keeps tabs on funeral costs, and the average funeral in the month of October 2007 cost just over $6000. The average casket was $1100. The Federal Trade Commission has some good consumer literature on your rights when buying funeral services.
And our Consumer Encyclopedia has info for people who are considering paying in advance for their funeral while they're still alive.
Technorati Tags: funeral costs, funeral expenses, preneed funeral, prepaid funeral, moagoconsumer, consumer protection
Posted by on December 13, 2007 12:10 pm :: Comments (7) :: Permalink
7 Responses to "How much will my funeral cost?"
says:
December 15, 2007 3:56 pm
The FTC consumer material is great in advance reading for any type of a funeral.However pre paying for a funeral should be avoided in any situation according to the AARP.
R.Brian Burkhardt
Funeral Director, Author, and YOUR FUNERAL GUY
says:
January 6, 2008 9:39 pm
I disagree with the AARP's opinion on prepaying your funeral expenses. Remember that you are buying your funeral plan at today's cost, but using the product in the future. This means you don't get the interest accrued on the money you paid for the funeral back at the time of your family members death. When you prearrange your funeral plans with a funeral home KEEP ALL of your paperwork and contracts, look over the contract (or statement of funeral goods and services) before going in to make funeral arrangements for your deceased family member and know everything you are entitled to get based on the contract. Some funeral homes included a limousine or flower expenses years ago, but do not mention it during the arrangements upon someones death in hopes of not having to fund the expense for these items today. I have personally worked for funeral homes that have done this to save themselves money. If you are capable of investing the money to fund your funeral and be responsible for paying the taxes on the interest earned you will come out with more money and have the control of using any funeral home of your choice upon death. Also, appoint a trusted family member or friend to access this money upon your death.
Be prepared that if you should have to go on Public Assistance and have the state pay your living expenses in a nursing home, you'll have to give this money to a trusted funeral establishment.
If done properly, a prearranged funeral plan with a trustworthy funeral establishment is a good investment and you have relieved your family of the burden of arranging your funeral.
Please direct questions or comments to me at www.deathcare.blogspot.com .
says:
January 7, 2008 10:35 am
To Shawn:
Thank you for your perspective as an expert in this area. I want consumers to keep in mind one other thing: you are paying for your funeral in today's dollars, but most funeral homes will not guarantee the funeral at that price. In fact, the funeral industry discourages funeral homes from guaranteeing anyting. They say it is foolish to guarantee a future funeral at a given price, since you don't know how much costs might increase by the time the consumer dies. That seems reasonable from a business perspective.
In other words, a consumer might pay $8000 for a funeral, then upon his death his loved ones face additional charges.
says:
January 27, 2008 11:59 am
I now live in Illinois. The state has a government program to help individuals find unclaimed money
that belongs to you. Does Missouri offer the same help?
says:
February 5, 2009 11:38 am
Our niece's husband has just died. He was on Disability and they had no other income. Are there any funeral expense programs/grants available for indigent families in Camdenton, MO?
says:
February 6, 2009 3:09 pm
To Sandy:
You can check with your local Area Agency on Aging. I know Social Security offers about $250 for funeral expenses, which wouldn't come close to covering the typical funeral.
