Getting Older? Why You Should Preplan Your Funeral

Funeral costs can be as much as $10,000 depending on the type of funeral you have and the casket and headstone you choose. This amount of money can be difficult for families, especially during their time of grieving. To help, you should take steps now to preplan your funeral. Below is some more information about how to preplan your funeral so you will not have to worry about putting your family into debt.

Purchase the Casket

One of the most expensive purchases at a funeral is the casket. Visit a funeral home to look at caskets. You will find they many are made of metal materials, such as copper, bronze, and stainless steel. Copper and bronze metal caskets are generally the most expensive but also the most common materials used. These metals are durable and will not break down. Stainless steel caskets are less expensive and rust-resistant. 

You can also find caskets that are made of woods such as poplar, pine, oak, maple, cherry, walnut, and mahogany. Wood caskets have a highly-polished finish and cherry, walnut, and mahogany are generally the most common woods used. You do have to consider that wood is a porous material, so it is impossible to completely seal the casket when it is closed.

Along with visiting a funeral home, look online at casket prices to see where you can get the best deal.

Purchase the Headstone

The headstone is another big expense when it comes to planning a funeral. You will find there are a variety of types and materials used when making headstones. One type is the upright headstone, which is what you will see most often if you visit a cemetery. These headstones are fixed to the ground and have a concrete base.

On the other hand, flat headstones are generally made of bronze or granite. You will find them flush with the ground or they may be raised and slanted from the rear.

There are different materials used for headstones. Granite is the most common as it is available in a variety of finishes and colors and is very durable. You will likely find that granite headstones are inexpensive when compared to other materials.

Limestone is another material that can be used. It has a beige hue, and the material is rubbed so it has a smooth finish. Limestone is not as durable when compared to granite, however.

Bronze headstones are popular with many people, Bronze is durable and darkens over time, but is generally more expensive than granite.

To find the right casket and headstone, choose a funeral home that you would like to use and make an appointment with them. Funeral homes like Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home can be a big help when it comes to preplanning your funeral so you can get everything taken care of more quickly.