Planning your own funeral can seem like a daunting thing to do.
However, it’s a very simple process that will take a huge amount of pressure off your family’s shoulders when the time comes to arrange a funeral for you.
A funeral is an important event for those who have lost someone they loved. It’s a time that friends and family gather together to honour the memory of the one who has died, to acknowledge the reality of death, to personally grieve, and hopefully begin a healthy grief journey.
If you plan ahead, it ensures that your funeral is exactly what your grieving family will want and need. You might be a little sceptical about planning ahead, and let’s face it, death, dying, and funerals is something we try not to think about too often.
What is a Funeral Plan?
A funeral plan is a way of paying for your funeral in advance. A prepaid funeral is a way of putting arrangements in place in the event of the death of yourself or a loved one.
Funeral plans work by paying the funeral provider for the services you require in the future. Your money is kept safe and will be ready to use to provide their services when the time comes. The plan will outline the exact services you’ll be paying for, with a few options or packages. Generally, the more services there are included in the package, the more expensive the plan will be.
Funeral plans can be paid for in full or by instalments. The terms depend on the plan provider and is something you need to research in advance.
To help you understand and appreciate the importance of planning your own funeral, let’s look at some reasons why it’s such a good idea.
1. Provides Peace of Mind for all Involved
The first few days after the loss of a loved one can be very hazy. It might also feel like a dark cloud has descended. In amongst all this emotional stress, your loved ones have to plan the details of a funeral service.
How good would it be if you could alleviate the burden that will fall on your loved ones, by planning and paying for your funeral services. Planning ahead with a Funeral Plan is a gift of love that brings great peace of mind.
2. Plenty of Time to Create a Meaningful and Healing Celebration of Life
You can choose to make the plans on your own or invite family members to join in the process. When you’re planning ahead you’ve got time to plan a meaningful funeral service. When there are no time constraints, you can plan thoughtfully and prepare the kind of service that meets your wishes and the emotional needs of your family.
For the bereaved who are left behind, a thoughtfully planned funeral service is a healthy first step on their individual grief journey.
3. Ensures Your Wishes are Known
You might have some specific wishes for your funeral service. If you prearrange it, you can share those wishes with your family. You can also arrange to pay for your funeral in advance, making it even more likely your wishes are carried out.
4. Saves Money
It’s not unusual for families to overspend when a loved one dies. It’s only natural that they want the best for their loved one, but the trouble is that their financial decisions are clouded by grief. This is another reason why it’s good to plan ahead.
You’re able to make the financial decisions with a clear, rational mind and you can control the final budget for the cost of your funeral.
5. Protects Against Inflation
If you decide to prepay your funeral expenses, the funeral director or funeral plan provider usually guarantees that the funeral service and additional items itemised in your contract will be covered by the plan’s benefits at the time of death.
6. Secures and Protects Your Funeral Funds
If you decide to pay in advance as well as preplan your funeral arrangements, you can ensure the funds to pay for the funeral are secure and protected.
7. Funds are Available Immediately
If you decide to set up a prepaid funeral plan, the funds are available immediately when they’re needed. The funds can be set up to transfer directly to the funeral provider. By doing this, you avoid unexpected delays. If you decide to use a life insurance policy to pay for your funeral expenses, it could be six weeks or longer before the funds are available.
Your Tomorrows Aren’t Guaranteed
Nobody knows what tomorrow is going to bring, but there is one thing we can be certain of. None of us are promised a tomorrow. Trying to deny the reality of death doesn’t mean it’s any less likely to happen. One of the most caring things you can do for your loved ones is take care of as much as possible in advance. It can make a massive difference in the lives of your loved ones.
Read more:
7 Reasons Why You Should Consider a Funeral Plan