![\"How](\"https:\/\/s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/img.prod.aplaceformom.com\/main\/uploads\/sa-blog\/2015\/01\/Choosing-Cremation-Understanding-the-Costs-350x350.jpg\")
Options to Consider<\/h1>\nOptions to Consider<\/h1>\nMost of us go through life not really wanting to think much about death, but eventually all of us will have to face death, and one of the biggest considerations we\u2019ll have when it occurs is deciding what to do with the body of the deceased.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re\u00a0pre-planning your own funeral<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0or faced with making decisions after the death of a loved one, it\u2019s important to understand your options. In most cases, that means a choice between burial and cremation.<\/p>\n In recent years, cremation has become the option most\u00a0commonly chosen by families<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0in the United States. If you could use some information on how cremation works and what your options are before making a decision, here are some of the main things you should know.<\/p>\n The main reason most people opt for cremation over burial is practical and relatable: cost. Cremation costs are far lower than the\u00a0cost of a burial<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>so if you can\u2019t afford the $8,000-$10,000 associated with burial or if you or your loved one don\u2019t have a strong emotional attachment to the idea of being buried, it just makes sense to go with cremation.<\/p>\n While for most people, cost will be a deciding factor, there are a few other benefits of choosing cremation:<\/p>\n Many people still have a preference for burial for religious or sentimental reasons, but if your priority is finding something that\u2019s affordable, easy, and flexible \u2013 while still being meaningful \u2013 then cremation is likely to be your best choice.<\/p>\n There\u2019s not one easy answer to the question of how much cremation costs. As with most services, the cost of cremation depends on where you live. Prices are typically higher in urban areas, and vary tremendously depending on which services and add-ons you choose.<\/p>\n The\u00a0average cost of a cremation<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is around $2,000, but adding a memorial service increases the average cost by over $3,000.<\/p>\n Services that may increase the cost of a cremation include:<\/p>\n For a direct cremation, without any add-ons, embalming, or a memorial service, costs can be as low as $500-$1000. In this scenario, families can still host a service at home or place of worship with the remains; it just means they won\u2019t be paying to have one provided through the funeral home.<\/p>\n After cremation, families can choose how best to honor their loved one\u2019s remains. For many, the first step is purchasing the urn they\u2019ll be kept in. Urns range in cost from less than $20 to prices in the hundreds of dollars. Choosing an urn is obviously a very personal choice, and finding the right one for your family will depend on how you intend to use it.<\/p>\n For example, will the urn only hold your loved one\u2019s remains up until you spread them in a place that\u2019s meaningful to you, or do you intend to keep the remains in your own home to keep your loved one\u2019s memory close? If you want somewhere to visit as you would with a burial grave, many cemeteries include columbaria where you can keep cremated remains on display in a nice looking urn (for an additional expense of\u00a0around $1,000<\/a><\/strong>). Or you could bury the ashes in your own backyard to have a spot to visit that\u2019s especially close to you, in which case you may be fine with using the box the ashes are returned to you in.<\/p>\n Investing in a beautiful decorative urn makes more sense if you\u2019re going to be keeping it on your own mantle or in a columbarium, whereas spending less on something that suffices will make more sense if you\u2019ll be burying or scattering the ashes soon after you receive them. Recognizing different needs, companies sell urns in a range of visual styles, urns that are biodegradable, and those that are approved for air travel. This is an area where you have a lot of control over the cost based on your personal preferences, and you should be able to find affordable options if you\u2019re still reeling from the cost of the cremation itself.<\/p>\n Begin by calling funeral homes, crematories, and cremation societies in your area, and find out what specific services they provide. Some businesses will offer just the cremation itself, while others provide end-to-end offerings that cover everything from the cremation to your choice of service and treatment of remains. In some cases, businesses that offer different services will partner together, such as a crematory and a funeral home, in order to offer the full suite of services you need between them.<\/p>\n When you call, ask about the costs of cremation. Start by getting quotes for a direct cremation, the least expensive option, so you know the minimum amount you\u2019re dealing with. Then enquire about any additional add-on services or alternative packages you\u2019re potentially interested in.<\/p>\n As with any service, make sure to research companies to make sure that you\u2019re working with a reputable provider. Helpful resources include:<\/p>\n The idea of comparison shopping for cremation right after a loved one\u2019s death may feel callous, but it\u2019s for that very reason that some companies in the industry overprice their services \u2013 they expect grieving families to more easily say \u201cyes\u201d to whatever\u2019s offered. Your finances will be better for it if you take some time to review multiple options before making a decision.<\/p>\n When you\u2019ve narrowed your list to a few providers, ask detailed questions about their processes and prices. Here\u2019s a good list of questions to keep on hand during your search:<\/p>\n With research and diligence, you can rest assured that the cremation provider you choose will handle this special, important task with the reverence that it deserves.<\/p>\n For some people, the decision of what to do with a loved one\u2019s ashes will be obvious. For others, you may be left feeling stumped trying to figure out what you can do that most honors the deceased. Here are a few different options to consider.<\/p>\n This is a fairly common choice families make to honor the deceased. Think about places they loved \u2013 a favorite vacation spot or the place where they proposed to their spouse, for instance. You can even choose a few different spots to divide the ashes between. You can make a ceremony out of the moment by saying a few words or reading some favorite quotes, and you an always go back to that spot when you want to remember your\u00a0loved one.<\/p>\n Whether you keep the ashes in a beautiful urn on the mantel or in a drawer in your bedroom, keeping the remains at home can be a good way to keep the memory of your loved one close. If you prefer the idea of visiting a spot in your backyard when you want to honor your loved one rather than driving to a cemetery, you can bury the ashes in your own backyard and set up a marker or plant something to always remind you where your loved one\u2019s remains are.<\/p>\n If you want somewhere similar to a gravesite where you can visit your loved one\u2019s remains, but don\u2019t want to pay for the price of a plot, many cemeteries include columbaria where you can store an urn and pay visits in a more formal environment.<\/p>\n Memorial tree urns<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0allow you to store your ashes within just the right mix of seed and soil so that a tree will grow up where you\u2019ve buried the urn. A memorial tree will last longer than most other memorials you may choose and is a beautiful and environmentally friendly way to honor a loved one.<\/p>\n If you want a way to keep your loved one even closer than in your own home, look into\u00a0cremation jewelry<\/a><\/strong>. These pieces are hollowed out so that you can fill them in with your loved one\u2019s ashes and wear a little piece of them with you at all times.<\/p>\n Similar to memorial trees, memorializing your loved one as part of a coral reef is an environmentally friendly option that will last for many years.\u00a0Eternal Reefs\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>makes reef balls that help replace the necessary materials that struggling coral reefs need to thrive. Your loved one\u2019s ashes will be mixed into the concrete used to create the life-sustaining reef balls and thus turned into an important tool in the effort to help rebuild the world\u2019s reefs.<\/p>\nReasons to Consider Cremation<\/h2>\n
\n
Typical Cremation Costs<\/h2>\n
\n
How Much Do Cremation Urns Cost?<\/h2>\n
How to Choose a Cremation Provider<\/h2>\n
\n
Questions to Ask your Cremation Provider<\/h2>\n
\n
8 Meaningful Options for Your Loved One\u2019s Remains<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n