Cheapest Way To Have A Funeral ????

Duh · Guru

RE: Cheapest Way To Have A Funeral ????

Duh · Guru

johnq wrote:
Maybe men are less concerned about what happens to their remains after death. I am not.

One thing I am wondering about though after some of the comments, is the desirability of having a known place where the ashes were scattered. We shouldn't deny relatives and friends a place to visit.

Thoughts on that anyone?

I have picked a place for my ashes to be scattered John, to be done by a family member with whoever else wants to be there,

It is a public place so will be done without fanfare as it would not be approved by the Council, so done on the QT. All the family will know where and it is a nice place for contemplation. I actually have a plaque erected (unveiled by the Mayor) very close to this spot which was done for another purpose, but will act as a landmark.....

Duh · Guru

Thanks for the feedback NeilnRuth, very much appreciated. I have noticed that none of the funeral directors I visited online have their prices shown, you have to either send them an email for prices or contact them by phone or in person. I am wondering if this is because they don't like the competition undercutting them and seeing what they charge (it's a pretty competitive business).

The one I look like going with told me that their prepaid option does not have any extras charged for unless rellies or the person concerned before they die add extra's, called "variations" in the business. The said that the prepaid with them is set at that price irrespective of when you die, and avoids price increases up to that time (bear in mind too that this includes cremation prices set by the crematoriums). I am not sure how other funeral places operate so different funeral directors may charge differently.

I assume that when you prepay, the funeral directors make up for any later increases in their shortfalls by the interest they get on the money you have prepaid. Someone told me (I haven't checked with Centrelink yet) that Centrelink count prepaid funeral amounts as a deemed asset. If this is the case, then you could find you are being deemed on that amount each year as though it was earning interest. But I am not sure it this is the case.

I haven't got my cost break down yet for my additional options if I want them, at the PO Box waiting to be picked up.

PS: This must be of interest to many GN's, I see the topic has nearly 800 views so far.....

-- Edited by Duh on Thursday 13th of June 2013 12:29:25 PM

Duh · Guru

I just called Centrelink, they informed me that Prepaid Funerals are not assessed by Centrelink, although you would still need to notify them that X amount of dollars have been paid out of your savings etc so the recorded amount you are being deemed on can be adjusted (in your favour) to a lower amount in your bank account etc.

However, while prepaid funerals will not affect your assets, funeral bonds are assessed (I assume interest from them).

For Wombat, I am thinking of prepaid for the funeral director to do paperwork/death certificate, cheapest coffin, pick up and transport body from place of death for cremation (I would imagine storage until cremation can be done), transport to cremation.

Ashes will be picked up in a container from the cemetery by a relative in a container provided by the cemetery (now using screwed lid plastic container I was told). This is all free, however if you want the funeral director to pick them up then I assume there would be a charge for that service. The relative who picks up the ashes from the crematorium must be the one who was the contact for the funeral directors or arranged the funeral, they are called "the administrator".

-- Edited by Duh on Thursday 13th of June 2013 01:03:40 PM

neilnruth · Guru

Well here are some costs my son has provided for his area of NSW.

Yes the person from WA is correct... cardboard options are currently more expensive than particle board coffins.

Our price for the same option quoted (No Service and No Attendance at the Crematorium) is $4661. Adding a service at the Crematorium and all the things that entails would be $6834. For Burial you can easily add another $2500.

And here's something to be aware of.....

Interesting that people are wanting to know prices, as I am considering displaying all our prices on our website. Research is showing that families appreciate full disclosure. We are a full service funeral company, so we offer everything for no additional cost. ----------'s for example would get more funerals over the phone, because they are initially so much cheaper than us. It is only when the arrangement is complete that the family would find that all the things our company don't charge for have now been added and -----------'s are in fact more expensive than us!

Watch out for all the hidden bits.........and as Duh has done, ask questions and get quotes.

So the way Duh is doing it would be the cheapest. A Memorial Service/Celebration after the death/cremation without the funeral directors present is the best way to go financially. It helps in the grieving process to have something like a photo of the person plus items of significance to be displayed since their is no coffin. A nice arrangement of flowers too? Last one we went to gave us all a white rose bud to take home as a memento of the person.

Thanks for opening the topic Duh. It has helped us all. Now I even know the prices!!! smile

Duh · Guru

neilnruth wrote:
Duh, check with funeral company - I have always been told by son that a pre-paid will not cover costs if they go up by the time you die. The family would have to make up the difference.

I am still waiting for the mail to be picked up from a PO Box from the company, but over the phone I asked this question and they said the cost would be frozen at that level irrespective of price rises. I imagine that the interest they earn on those who take out these prepaid ones would more than cover any price rises, and by having the plan with them they are guaranteed to have your future (when you die) business and rellies are not likely to go to another funeral place if you have already paid for it.

I will see what the info they have sent me in writing says when I get it, they also told me that the only way you would have to pay extra is if you decided to add items (like service, flowers, funeral notices etc) after you had paid for a funeral that did not include these items or your rellies had requested more than what was covered what you had paid for, what they call "Variations" in the industry...

Just guessing, but it may depend on the prepaid contract you sign and the funeral company you are dealing with. Having said that my neighbour said they knew of someone who's rellies had to pay extra with a funeral company on a prepaid, but not knowing the circumstances (did they order more items than paid for?) don't know for sure.

-- Edited by Duh on Thursday 13th of June 2013 07:05:36 PM

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Duh, can you name the one you are thinking of going with please?

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

if you cannot name the company perhaps you could PM me please.

I know you said this " Lesser life span for Wombats.......but you don't have to worry about it because the birds and ants will take care of your carcass at no cost to you..... wink biggrin

Mrs W said she will decide how I am sent off and it will not be lunch or dinner for the birds and ants. biggrin biggrin

Duh · Guru

_wombat_ wrote:
if you cannot name the company perhaps you could PM me please.
I know you said this " Lesser life span for Wombats.......but you don't have to worry about it because the birds and ants will take care of your carcass at no cost to you.....
Mrs W said she will decide how I am sent off and it will not be lunch or dinner for the birds and ants.

Pm sent......tell Mrs W she will only have to fill in the hole entrance, won't cost anything....the worms will take care of the rest!

PS: Hope you're not thinking of leaving us for wombat fields unknown ?????

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Duh wrote:
_wombat_ wrote:
if you cannot name the company perhaps you could PM me please.
I know you said this " Lesser life span for Wombats.......but you don't have to worry about it because the birds and ants will take care of your carcass at no cost to you.....
Mrs W said she will decide how I am sent off and it will not be lunch or dinner for the birds and ants.

Pm sent......tell Mrs W she will only have to fill in the hole entrance, won't cost anything....the worms will take care of the rest!
PS: Hope you're not thinking of leaving us for wombat fields unknown ?????

Thanks Duh, I'm not thinking of leaving for fields unknown, it was you that started this topic biggrin

BTW its a great topic.

neilnruth · Guru

Duh, check with funeral company - I have always been told by son that a pre-paid will not cover costs if they go up by the time you die. The family would have to make up the difference.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

neilnruth wrote:
Duh, check with funeral company - I have always been told by son that a pre-paid will not cover costs if they go up by the time you die. The family would have to make up the difference.

Ditto, always get it in writing BEFORE you pay what you are paying for and if it will stay the same if you live another 30-40 years, this also needs to be part of the contract, DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT ANY SALESMAN/WOMAN TELLS YOU VERBALLY.

ALWAYS GET IT IN WRITING and read it before paying or signing.

Duh · Guru

I will be getting it in writing IF I decide to take this course of action (prepaid)..... blankstare

Duh · Guru

I had the experience of a tour through the Melbourne morgue years ago Tony, a requirement of a job I was doing at the time. They showed us a freezer of bodies who were paupers waiting for cremation, apparently the Vic government allocated a sum for so many each month and they were kept there until it was their turn. Don't know what they do in WA though. They also had some bodies of unidentified people who had to be kept frozen until a certain time for identification purposes. Also showed us bodies of others including those who had died in hospital, some with bandages still attached, and small children, and one body prepared for an autopsy, very sad especially seeing the kids.

Couldn't wait to get out of the place fast enough, needed a few stiff (excuse the pun) drinks after that. I could never work in a funeral parlour.

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 15th of June 2013 01:54:30 AM

Solo Steve · Senior Member

I think that I will die on someone's front lawn, will get cleaned up in no time all expenses paid.

Duh · Guru

These are are the prices I was given, please note that for some reason, if you have a full service, it is more expensive to have your cremated ashes at the service than to have your body for cremation afterwards, the price for the body present at the service is not shown, info is only for either a cemetery chapel service or a service in the Funeral Directors chapel both with ashes. I only asked for the ashes details, they would have provided the other body present costs if I had asked for them.

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tonyd · Guru

Thanks, Vic, for your efforts on this important matter.

I don't want to sound like a tightwad, but the prices quoted still strike me as outrageous for the minimal procedure described.

There are a lot of Aussie pensioners with not much in the way of capital and/or equity in a home. What happens to them after they die? They certainly can't afford the thousands of dollars being sought by funeral directors.

It's one of those issues that people don't want to talk about. It deserves a public airing. I may try a few letters to MPs . . . but I won't hold my breath waiting for replies.

Cheers, Tony

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I think Centrelink has a funeral/burial benefit or something???.

Duh · Guru

GarrynLyn wrote:
Vic,
We just had a family funeral over here in the east, and the costs were:
Cremation fee $906
Doctors cremation certificates $198
Advertising $143
Copy of Death Certificate $63
Professional fees $2500
Transfer $300
Preservation $250
Casket $800
We had the service in the church so other costs:
Morning tea donation $200
Organist $50
Piper $150
Hope this helps. Seems a bit much and I reckon when I go, just transport me in the back of the farm ute. And yes, Vic, I remember the obligatory morgue visit !!!
Garry

Many thanks Garry, it is appreciated. Just counting the bit for the simple cremation without service etc from our list comes to

$4,667, my quote was $4,041, so much the same price. Regards the morgue visit, mine was 30 years ago now, after seeing all the slide out draws and bodies covered in sheets in TV movies, something of a shock to see all the bodies laying on stainless steel trollies with tagged toes completely naked in the same cool room, and of course the corpses needing longer storage just stacked on the floor naked in a freezer room. Couldn't get over the morgue attendant who had just cut open a body in the autopsy room for the coroner sitting at a little table next to the body eating his sandwiches and have a cuppa from his flask.....don't know how they do that job.. I wonder if the Melbourne morgue still operates that way or if the have updated their methods and facilities....one would hope so.

A couple of females we had with us had a bit of a titter about one male corpse, his appendage was like a donkey, I think it was more a nervous reaction thing.....

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 15th of June 2013 04:45:18 PM

GarrynLyn · Senior Member

Vic,

We just had a family funeral over here in the east, and the costs were:

Cremation fee $906

Doctors cremation certificates $198

Advertising $143

Copy of Death Certificate $63

Professional fees $2500

Transfer $300

Preservation $250

Casket $800

We had the service in the church so other costs:

Morning tea donation $200

Organist $50

Piper $150

Hope this helps. Seems a bit much and I reckon when I go, just transport me in the back of the farm ute. And yes, Vic, I remember the obligatory morgue visit !!!

Garry

Duh · Guru

Here is a few details from the little booklet I was sent with the letter I got from the funeral director I enquired with, didn't now how to compress these to one page, so please scroll down on each of the three pages....

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the rocket · Guru

don't die smile smile smile smile

Duh · Guru

the rocket wrote:
don't die

My favourite son in law (known for his compassion) told me today that if I think my time is near, instead of paying $4,000 plus for a prepaid funeral, use it to go on a cruise, then just before getting into home port and still out to sea, jump off the ship, reckons it would be a much better way to go and an enjoyable trip into the bargain, with no funeral costs! furious wink smile

neilnruth · Guru

And it will be just your luck that they decide to stop the ship and go and rescue you!!

Duh · Guru

neilnruth wrote:
And it will be just your luck that they decide to stop the ship and go and rescue you!!

Yep, Murphy's law!!! furious wink smile

herbie · Guru

Hi Vic ,was reading your post here regarding cheapest way to plan/have a funeral,as we all live in a digital world and conducting our lives online,it's more important then ever we ensure this online world is managed effectively. If our pass words are unknown only to to self, it can make it very hard ,not to mention traumatic for family members to obtain access, for instance to our emails or face book profile-- even if it is just to close them down. It requires contacting the companies involved,providing death certificates and so on.Which can take weeks or even months .What we have done is place password with our wills. But thinking of using one of these well known services.securesafe.com or legacylocker.com both offer a range a packages at various price points (even free ) but would need to include this service wrote into your will.

Realise this is not the best of topics to be discussing, but death is like taxes we just cannot escape .

Regards Herbie.

Duh · Guru

Thanks for the tips Herbie, all appreciated. I have written my passwords down and hopefully will be passed on when I do, so can be used to close down my accounts when needed. In the meantime will try to reduce my accounts/forums that I use with a password.

Seeing a funeral place tomorrow to draw up and authorise a prepaid. A sensitive subject yes, but one that I believe needs to be addressed while you can, especially while you have your marbles.

Duh · Guru

Gerty Dancer wrote:
I think Centrelink has a funeral/burial benefit or something???.

I'm not sure Gerty, perhaps someone might know. I did hear of someone dying that had no money to pay for it and they were allocated some public funding for their cremation, but don't know the facts, maybe someone else does???

Duh · Guru

Well finally signed up for prepaid today on a "Guardian Plan" benefits provided by Over Fifty Guardian Friendly Society Ltd, guaranteed to be the same price as when you kick the bucket (no extras).

Australian wide company Simplicity Funerals. Cost for what I want (basic cremation, paperwork, coffin) $4,273...

All I have to do now is hope they don't go to the wall before I cark it, they've been around for a long time so hopefully it won't happen.

Apparently with this company the prepaid funds are kept in a Trust Fund for the safety of clients funds.

Feel a lot better now I have done it and can go and enjoy life without worrying about funds being available when the time comes.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Duh wrote:
Well finally signed up for prepaid today on a "Guardian Plan" benefits provided by Over Fifty Guardian Friendly Society Ltd, guaranteed to be the same price as when you kick the bucket (no extras).
Australian wide company Simplicity Funerals. Cost for what I want (basic cremation, paperwork, coffin) $4,273...
All I have to do now is hope they don't go to the wall before I cark it, they've been around for a long time so hopefully it won't happen.
Apparently with this company the prepaid funds are kept in a Trust Fund for the safety of clients funds.
Feel a lot better now I have done it and can go and enjoy life without worrying about funds being available when the time comes.

Funeral companies do not go to the wall