Now you can reduce the cost by first of all going online and buying caskets frome Kmart' yes Kmart they have quality caskets that just as goood as any others and much and I mean much more cheaper. And it is against the law for a funeral home to tell you that you can't bring in a outside casket. Also do not get fooled into buying a casket that is sealed meaning with a gasket around the lid. They can charge you 500 bucks for a 75 buck lid gasket.They will tell you that it is to protect the body but in fact' it does not' it seals in the gases and when they have nowhere to go the casket explodes open' and because the air can't get to the body anaerobic microbial breakdown takes place' anaerobic bacteria does not need oxygen so it thrives' and will turn the body into a soup. And the gas pressure becomes great, and the casket busts open' it is called Exploding Casket Syndrome. Many mausoleum cemetery owners' will crack the casket open to let it dry out to avoid this. Also to keep the cost down you don't need a container unless you want one and have the money. They will tell you that it will protect the body' but they do not water and fungus get's in there anyway. Also hand them the persons own clothing. But it is still 500 to 600 bucks to dig the hole. But the few things that I told you can save you thousands of bucks. Now below is a article that I found on the average funeral' you can knock the price down much more than the article below by doing certain things.
Lewis
http://ezinearticles.com/?Funeral-Costs---How-Much-Does-an-Average-Funeral-Cost?&id=1629466
Funeral Costs - How Much Does an Average Funeral Cost?
Many times you'll people say that the average funeral costs around $6,000. However, that estimate is based on a price survey taken several years ago. Funeral prices, like everything else, have increased with inflation.
Today, the average North American traditional funeral costs between $7,000 and $10,000. This price range includes the services at the funeral home, burial in a cemetery, and the installation of a headstone. While cremation is gaining in popularity, the traditional funeral is still the most popular manner for disposing of the deceased.
Although funeral prices vary considerably between funeral homes and geographic areas of the country, here is a reasonable "ballpark" estimate of the main costs that are involved:
- fee for the funeral director's services: $1,500
- cost for a casket: $2,300
- embalming: $500
- cost for using the funeral home for the actual funeral service: $500
- cost of a gravesite: $1,000
- cost to dig the grave: $600
- cost of a grave liner or outer burial container: $1,000
- cost of a headstone: $1,500
In this example, total costs would approximate $9,000....and that's just for the "main" items. There could be additional charges for things like placing the obituary in the newspaper, buying flowers, and limousine rental. There could also be additional charges for prayer cards, use of the hearse, and a donation to the organist, soloist, or officiating clergy.
Fortunately, there are many things you can do to reduce the cost of funeral services to a more reasonable level. This is one area where a little bit of planning can make a big difference. The little bit of time you spend preparing can easily save you thousands of dollars in unnecessary costs.
Michael Testa, CPA and funeral expense expert
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/1629466
