Funeral costs ?

Errata

Clearly a cardboard coffin is helpful for those who need to keep costs to a minimum or have strong feelings about being green.

Having given it some thought, I truly couldn't bear one of my loved ones meeting their end in a cardboard box. Strangely enough, I'm not bothered what I finish up being shoved into. Funny old world.

eco

Mely wrote: »

I cant believe the price of CARDBOARD coffins with a starting price of £2800!!!!!!:eek: What are they lined with - gold?????

My mums was £50 for a cardboard coffin, my aunty had a whicker casket reminded me of a washing basket.

gimmetoast

My mother in law died in 2004, having left clear instructions on her funeral. She was adamant that she didn't want to be left with a funeral director, so we decided we'd do as much as possible ourself.

I wholeheartedly recommend a book "NATURAL DEATH HANDBOOK"- it told us everything we needed to know in order to give MIL a fantastic send-off.

I got a cardboard coffin £65 including delivery from Celtic Caskets (details in the book). Yes, it did look like a large shoebox, but we draped it in red velvet and a large bouquet of white lillies (from a local florist, less than 10% of the price of a tacky wreath from the florist near the crem!) and it looked beautiful

We hired a hearse ourselves by phoning companies in the yellow pages and were shocked at how approachable and accommodating most were, not to mention how reasonably priced. We hired a fancy hall for refreshments, but the catering was all done by her friends from the WI and family.

Everyone helped out, a friend printed the order of service on his home printer, neighbours made plates of sandwiches and cups of tea or decorated the church with homegrown flowers etc.

It was a beautiful Quaker funeral, with everyone being part of her send-off.
A few of us went to the crem, but it wasn't really a major part of the send-off (most stayed in the hall for fancy cakes!)- we simply left the coffin in a side room to be cremated later that day. We had a phone call 3 days later to collect the ashes, which we scattered on a hillside near her childhood home.

Funeral costs, including necessary legal paperwork...less than £1000.
Champagne to toast a life well lived................ more than £200 (hic!)
Hours worrying about what everyone would say when we told them our intentions to do the funeral all ourselves............................... 625
Nasty comments before or after............................................0
Positive comments............................................too many to count
Money saved and donated to hospice and other charities..........£3000
Giving my partners mum a send off fitting for such a remarkable lady.....................................................................priceless:A

At no time did anyone make us feel like we were being mean or disrespectful, quite the opposite! Rather than seeing thousands of pounds go up in smoke, the money we saved was used to improve the lives of the living.

If anyone needs any help or advice in order to give their loved one a fantastic send-off without breaking the bank, please get in touch.

Richard_T_Martin

Hello
there was an interesting article in the Guardian Money section on 8 May, sorry can't post link (new kid on the block) that has some very good tip on reducing costs.
And if you are going for cremation - don't use the crematoria or the garden of remembrance - take them somewhere special and scatter them.

meritaten

well I have my funeral sorted - strict instructions that the coffin is to be one of those lovely wicker ones - A transit van for transport from the morgue or home - NO funeral directors!!!! important point that. and burial in a green or council site. NO expensives wreaths or crosses simple bunches of flowers if people feel the need to. NO Church service and definately NO priests vicars at the burial. I work out it should cost less than a thousand even with the hire of the transit (my OH doesnt know this but i have fond memories of the back of a transit van!)
oh and the mourners can either have a little party at my home or go to the pub - I dont care really, its up to the kids!