What Are The Costs Associated With Cremation?

If you are considering cremation as an option for burying a loved one, it helps to know all of the costs associated with a cremation option. Here are some of the costs you'll need to factor into your total costs.

Casket Rental

If you intend to have a memorial service, there is the option of holding your service before cremation occurs. A casket rental would be necessary in this case, and embalming may also be required. Alternatively, you could have the body cremated before the memorial service in order to save on this cost. You can also use the cremation casket as your vessel for storing the ashes if you wish to purchase a casket outright.

Cremation

The costs of the cremation services themselves can vary depending on the options you choose. For instance, a regular cremation is much less expensive than a lye cremation. There may be governmental assistance for families who opt for cremation and can't afford the costs, so check with your local social service providers.

Cemetery Costs

The cost of purchasing a funeral plot should also be factored in if you opt to go this route. A headstone may be bought from the cemetery, but you can also save money by shopping from a funeral supplier. Of course, a cemetery burial is not necessary if you opt for cremation services. You could instead choose to display the ashes in your own home.

Urn or Other Vessel

Consider the costs of a holding vessel for your loved one's ashes. Your cremation services may provide this as part of their service package. You could also choose to go through someone else to have a more personalized urn made. In order to skip this cost, you could also choose a scatter at sea memorial service. Some families also like to incorporate the ashes into another object, such as a piece of jewelry or artwork. What you do with the ashes is a personal choice, which is one convenient aspect of cremation services.

Funeral Services

While this may seem like a lot, consider that the costs of cremation services are often much lower than those of a traditional burial. You have the option of skipping many costs, including the casket and cemetery plot if you are creative about how you plan the funeral. You could ask your funeral director or cremation services about ideas for reducing the costs of the process as much as possible.