Worried about leaving the cost of your funeral to your loved ones?
With the cost of funerals increasing, it makes sense to take out a pre-paid funeral plan – one that you pay for in advance – so relatives don’t have to cover the costs themselves. But you need to be careful as funeral plans don’t include everything.
Here we look at the different types of pre-paid funeral plans available and share our tips on how to choose the right one for you:
1. Basic-level funeral plans
Exactly as its name suggests, this is the simplest funeral plan you can take out. It includes a very basic coffin, you don’t get any limousines to transport your loved ones to the service, and your choice of time and day of the funeral is restricted.
2. Standard funeral plans
With a standard plan, you get a more simple coffin than you would with a higher-level plan and no limousines. These funeral plans cover the funeral director’s fees, the hearse and an allowance towards disbursements (third party costs), including cremation or burial fees, minister’s fees and – where appropriate – doctors’ fees. Please note that the cost of the burial plot isn’t included.
3. Higher-level funeral plans
These are very similar to the standard funeral plans but include a limousine for the family and sometimes – depending on the provider – a better quality coffin or extra bearers. On top of this, there is more flexibility for visiting the deceased at the funeral home.
4. Top-range funeral plans
Being the most expensive, you can expect to receive the same as the above – but with the addition of an extra limousine to transport family and close friends to the service, a more elaborate coffin, extra flexibility and perhaps a spray of flowers for the coffin. With this type of funeral plan, you can usually add whatever you like, or what the deceased would have wanted.
One thing we would like to point out with most funeral plans is that a funeral plan provider will pay an amount of money towards the disbursements (i.e. the cremation fee, doctors fee and ministers fee). These fees are out of the control of the funeral director and can increase rapidly over the years.
At Brunel Funeral Directors, we would recommend that you pay an additional fee, on top of the funeral plan of £349. This will fully guarantee the price and protect your family against hidden charges regarding disbursements. As always, our team will discuss your situation in further detail to make sure that this is the correct thing for you to do.
Benefits of pre-paid funeral plans:
- Lessen the financial burden of planning a funeral – taking out a funeral plan, in what can be assumed a calmer, more rational state of mind, will save your family the emotional and financial pressure when the time comes to arrange your funeral.
- Financial security – as long as you can afford the premiums now, a funeral plan will massively help your family in bereavement. You can still set money aside for your funeral, however, your loved ones may not be able to access it in time to pay the bills, due to legal reasons.
- Living in an expensive area – larger funeral plan providers supply packages to suit customers across the UK. So, if the cost of a funeral is pricey in your area, taking out a pre-paid funeral plan from a national company could save you money.
How much do funeral plans cost?
There are several ways in which you can purchase a funeral plan. You can either buy one directly from a funeral plan provider, such as Golden Leaves, or via funeral directors, like us at Brunel Funeral Directors.
If your budget allows, you can pay in one lump sum via debit/credit card or cheque. If it doesn’t, rest assured, you can pay in monthly instalments, spreading the cost over 1-5 years with a minimum deposit of £250, or – if you’re aged 50 to 75 – fixed monthly payments until you reach the age of 90.
The cost of a funeral plan will depend on your chosen plan and whether you add any extras. Speak to our team for a clear idea of how much a funeral plan will cost you.
Choosing the right funeral plan for you
Not all pre-paid plans are the same. So, take your time and compare the different options available.
Remember, the cheapest isn’t necessarily the most suitable and you want to be sure that your funeral plan includes the essentials for your family to give you the send-off you want (and deserve!).
To choose the best funeral plan, you must consider the:
- price
- type of service
- guarantees
- security
We have a comprehensive range of funeral plans and payment options for you to choose from – courtesy of Golden Leaves – and are confident that you’ll find one that matches both your budget and wishes. We can even provide a bespoke plan to ensure every aspect is catered for.
For help choosing the right plan for you, so you can reassure your family, get in touch with our team today. You can either visit our funeral home in Bristol, give us a call on 0117 374 2002 or email admin@brunelfd.co.uk. We’d love to hear from you.