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Funeral debt happens for a number of reasons; sometimes it’s because of a belief or expectation that a funeral has to look a particular way in order for it to be respectful.

Other times it’s because the person arranging the funeral did not have clear information about the prices they were going to be charged.

Clear Pricing

We also believe it’s important that people are clear and comfortable with the costs that will be incurred: before incurring them.

No one should ever have to proceed with a funeral relying on the words “Don’t worry about the costs”

Whilst it’s not always possible to have the exact cost at the time of the initial meeting you should expect to have a good estimate of the cost before signing any commitment to appoint your undertaker.

Any costs that are further identified throughout the arrangement of the funeral should be approved by you, and a final amount provided as soon as is practicably possible.

This is why you will find lots of information about different funerals and pricing and other fees on our website. We hope it comes across clearly.

Creative Solutions

Below are some elements of a funeral you might wish to take into account, but perhaps consider doing differently.

• Coffins – you can get some basic and totally acceptable coffins very cheaply. The amount you spend on a coffin does not reflect the amount you love someone. If you’re looking for something more personal, go for a cardboard coffin: decorate it yourself or invite friends and family to join you. Have a bamboo shroud instead of a coffin, or just buy your own. Find out more in our Frequently Asked Questions.
• Embalming – not necessary in most situations. Make sure it’s not included in a package as “hygienic preparation”. At A Natural Undertaking we will only embalm if expressly asked.
• Flowers – hand picked from the garden.
• Celebrant – take control and lead the ceremony yourself. Get everyone involved in saying something. Be brave- it’s not a show. Genuine emotion and passion are just as important as a well constructed eulogy.
• Orders of Service – most people have access to a computer and a printer. Get a friend with creative flair to help with the design and print.
• Venue – if you don’t want to be restricted to the time frames within a crematorium you might want to have a service before the cremation. There are often venues you can use that cost very little. A little research is all that’s needed. Here’s some information we’ve produced on different venues.
• Cars – you can hire a hearse, use your own transport or use ours. Think about whether you really need a limousine.
• Pallbearers – use family and friends. Use a trolley or coffin bier.
• Catering – do it yourself. Get everyone to help. Funeral food is a tradition observed differently in different cultures, but we all have it, and for good reason.
• Newspaper tributes – will the people you need to reach notice these in newspapers? Can you harness the power of social media?

For more advice on keeping funeral costs down take a look at websites such as the Quaker Social Action website.