• Email Page
• Share Page
• Comments
• Recommend
• Print

October 3, 2011
The High Cost of Dying

Make sure your family will be covered in the event of your death with these tips for managing the financial challenges of a funeral and more.

Transcript

Although it's not commonly discussed, death in America is expensive.

A traditional funeral and burial often costs over $10,000. Here are a few ways to reduce expenses while still honoring your deceased loved ones:

For many, cremation is a viable, less expensive option to burial in a casket. Some families prefer not to hold public viewings, which eliminates the need for costly embalming and cosmetology services. You may purchase caskets and cremation urns from other sources besides the funeral home. Finally, the Federal Trade Commission enforces federal laws regulating how funeral providers must deal with consumers. You can read about these laws at ftc.gov.

Bottom line: Prepare now so your family doesn't face financial burdens during an already challenging time.

Related Articles

• Read Contracts Carefully
• Don't Let a Layoff Catch You Unprepared
• The High Cost of Dying
• Accidents Happen, Get Your Affairs in Order