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What’s the Benefit of Paying for My Funeral in Advance?

September 13, 2024

Planning for your end-of-life ceremony, your funeral, has many benefits. Some of them are practical, some are emotional, and some are financial. For some, planning in advance actually helps them live a better, more purpose-driven life.

When a person pushes past the discomfort of considering their own mortality and considers how they would like to be remembered, it can tighten the focus about how they are living life now. If one wants to be remembered as a good parent or kind person, what are they doing today to support that goal?

Planning the ceremony as well as setting the tone and direction of the service that takes place can be done with or without paying for the funeral in advance. However, there are some often overlooked advantages to paying for your funeral before death occurs.

Side-Step Inflation

We all understand that financial considerations change as the times change. We all know costs tend to increase overtime. Just 20 years ago in 2000, a loaf of bread cost on average $1.99. Twenty years before that in 1980, it cost $0.50. Today, well you know, it costs more. Funerals also inflate in cost over time. That cost increases at a much slower rate (6.6% 2016 to 2021 according to the NFDA) than the bread, but still, the cost increases. When planning in advance, be sure to ask your advance planning funeral professional how you can pay in advance and avoid the impact of future cost increases.

Cover the Cost / Pay in Affordable Increments

When a person dies and the family plans and pays for the funeral, the full cost is typically required before the service takes place. Covering the cost of an advance funeral plan can be done in affordable flexible payments. Many funeral homes offer programs that will cover the entire cost should you die during the payment period. When planning in advance, ask your advance funeral planning professional about payment plans.

Remove the Emotion from the Cost

The death of a family member, a spouse, or a parent is a crushing emotional experience. We should feel … and we do. However, it is not necessarily a good time to make buying decisions. Emotions are high, we loved in full and all too often that makes us equate spending more with our overflowing love. Plans made and paid for in advance are completed in an atmosphere of emotional neutrality. Choices are still made with love, but they are not charged with emotion.

Eliminate the Financial Responsibility for Family

Even if you are leaving a good size estate for your family, those funds may not be available until the estate is settled. This can take months. Some states require probate or an estate to be settled in a specified time frame while others have no requirements. This can extend the time it takes for the estate to settle to a year or more. The family has the responsibility for covering the cost of the funeral while they wait for inheritance to be distributed.

When a person pushes past the discomfort of facing their own mortality and not only plans but also funds their funeral in advance, they not only set the tone and direction of the service, they also assure that the cost of the funeral reflects their values. Those who lived frugally, or modestly, or were fortunate enough to be able to spend with exuberance can be sure their funeral reflects the life they lived.

www.billowfuneralhomes.com

Since 1875, The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory has been providing world-class care to the families of northeastern Ohio. Family-owned and operated, Billow’s has two full-service facilities in Fairlawn and Cuyahoga Falls as well as a privately owned crematory. The team at Billow’s is passionate about providing unmatched care for both families and their loved ones. For more information, visit billowfuneralhomes.com.

What Are Burial Vaults and Grave Liners and Why Do I Have to Buy Them?

February 4, 2025
When saying goodbye to someone you love, you have a multitude of decisions to make. Some you might be prepared for, while other questions are new to you. One topic that many people are unfamiliar with is the concept of burial vaults and grave liners, which you may have to have in your loved one’s final resting place.

Food and Funerals: The Comfort of Sharing a Meal

February 4, 2025
Food not only nourishes the body but also comforts the soul, making it a significant part of funeral traditions. Offering food signifies care and supports the healing journey during such tough times.

Understanding Funeral Costs: A Guide to Planning with Care

January 8, 2025
When the time comes to think about funeral arrangements, one of the first questions many of us have is, "How much will it cost?" It’s natural to look for a straightforward answer during such an emotionally charged time. However, much like finding the perfect car, the cost of a funeral varies widely depending on personal choices and specific needs.

What Is the Purpose of Embalming?

January 8, 2025
Embalming can be a controversial topic. Some people are opposed to it, whether due to personal or religious reasons, but for others, embalming is an important part of starting their grief journey and getting a chance to say goodbye to the person they love.

Dressing for a Funeral: Comfort, Respect, and What to Wear

January 8, 2025
Attending a funeral is one of those things that makes everyone pause, not just because of the emotional weight, but also the big question: "What do I wear?" Let’s discuss.

Embracing Family in Funeral Planning

January 8, 2025
When it comes time to say goodbye to a loved one, the focus of the funeral often naturally falls on the family. It's the people who loved and knew the deceased best—spouses, children, grandchildren, friends, and even coworkers—who come together to remember and honor their life.

When Someone Dies, Someone Else Feels Lonely

December 3, 2024
The loneliness that accompanies the death of someone we care about is complex and individual. For those who, for many years, woke every morning alongside a husband or wife, it is strange to open your eyes and realize you’re alone. In the early days of grief, the void that is left when a life partner dies can feel like a black hole with no way out.

I’m Lonely: When is Too Soon to Start Dating?

November 12, 2024
The answer to this question depends on who you ask. Queen Victoria famously mourned Prince Albert by wearing black for the remainder of her life, forty years. The fictional character Scarlet O’Hara in the novel Gone With the Wind scandalized her peers by dancing with a bachelor at a charity event while “still in black.”

After the Death of a Spouse: 10 Things to Do BEFORE You Start Dating

November 12, 2024
Slow down and commit to investing some time in getting ready to date. A little preparation work will help you protect your safety, have a more pleasurable dating experience, and possibly avoid heartbreak.

Make Sure the Tough Days Are Covered

November 12, 2024
Supporting a friend who is grieving requires staying power. In the first few weeks and days following the funeral, our thoughts are full of our friend. But often, as the weeks become months, our friend’s need is less acute, and our own routine calls us. We forget.
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