How to have a cheap funeral

Last updated 26^th June 2024 by the SunLife Content Team
5 min read

Funerals can be expensive, but they don’t have to be. Whether you’re making plans for your own send-off, or a loved one’s, it is possible to save in some areas whilst keeping the service personal.

Here’s a breakdown of how and where you can help keep funeral costs down.

Funeral Directors’ fees

It may seem unusual, but you don’t have to use a funeral director. You could organise a DIY funeral with the help of family and friends. But this can be challenging during such a difficult time.

A happy medium could be to use a funeral director for the more specialist things like storing and preparing the body. And then you could take care of the service yourself.

It is easiest to use a funeral director for almost everything. But there are still other ways to trim the final bill if you do decide to use a funeral director.

Your funeral director may even be able to help you save money. They could advise you on lower cost options. Or they could even tell you about subsidies or grants you might be entitled to.

Funeral fees

Burial and cremation fees have risen over the last decade and are likely to be the most expensive part of a funeral.

These fees can vary from region to region. But if you want to go for the cheapest funeral, opt for a direct cremation to keep costs down.

A direct cremation takes place without a funeral service. There is no ceremony and no attendees. After death, when there is availability, the body is taken to a crematorium in a simple coffin and the ashes will be returned to loved ones.

Direct cremations are becoming more and more popular as they help keep a funeral cheap. They also allow you to have a more personalised send off to celebrate the deceased in the way you choose.

In fact, many people who arrange a direct cremation for their loved ones still arrange a memorial service of some kind on their own terms. This could be a family gathering at home, or in a local venue.

For those who would rather be buried, a natural burial can be another cheaper alternative option.

Coffin

Coffins range in price a lot. And while you may want to give your loved one a grand send-off, it’s likely that the coffin won’t be high on their list of send-off wishes.

Keeping the coffin simple will help to keep costs down and allow for the money to be spent on other things.

Even cardboard coffins, one of the cheapest options available, offer lots of personalisation options.

You could encourage loved ones to stick photos, or write messages in marker pens on the coffin. The personal touch will more than make up for the lack of grandeur.

Take a look at our guide to the types and prices of coffins to get an idea of what to expect from different budgets.

Embalming

Embalming is the process used to slow down the decay of the body.

You don’t always need to embalm. Especially if the funeral happens very soon after death, and the funeral director has good refrigeration facilities.

It may be difficult to think about, but skipping this step could help keep costs down, especially if you are not planning to have an open casket.

Transport

While a hearse and limos are very traditional, they aren’t both necessary.

You could use your own transport or ask friends and family to assist.

Or, you could organise a procession on foot if the distance isn’t too far.

Pallbearers

Pallbearers are often included in a package from the funeral director. But you could ask friends and family to carry the coffin. This will not only keep the costs down, but will also make the funeral more personal.

Orders of service

You don’t have to spend lots on creating an order of service. Ask friends or family to help with designing something that can be printed at home.

There are lots of ready-made templates available on the internet which you can download. You can then add your own text and photos of your loved ones.

This can allow you to create a more personal, heartfelt order of service at a much lower cost.

Flowers

A professional florist can end up costing a lot of money. While the flowers might be beautiful, supplying your own from the garden or local woodland can be a simple but personal solution.

Wake

Another way to make a funeral cheaper is to look at alternative arrangements for the memorial service after the funeral.

There’s no right way to hold a memorial service or wake. It can be completely down to the deceased’s wishes or those organising the funeral.

Some people choose not to have one at all. It’s important to do what feels right and what works with your finances.

Sometimes hiring an expensive venue can be an unnecessary strain – and not what your loved one might have wanted.

You could choose instead to invite people to your home. This can feel very personal and more relaxed.

And, many people will be more than happy to help with providing food and drink, which will reduce costs and make the event more intimate.

If you want to hold it away from your home, you could ask the local pub, village hall or community centre.

Sometimes these types of venues work out much cheaper, and, if you’re a local, they might even offer you a discount.

Music

You can use your own choice of pre-recorded music rather than live music to help keep costs down.

See our list of the best funeral songs to go out to for some inspiration, or try our funeral song generator.

Remember to spend the money where it matters most

Knowing what someone wanted for their funeral can be a great help for budgeting. Focus spending on the things they’ve asked for, not things that meant little to them.

This is why it’s so helpful to talk about our funeral wishes and plans when we’re alive and well.

If you don’t know exactly what someone wanted, spend on parts that will reflect what they valued or enjoyed and cut the funeral costs elsewhere.

For example, if the person loved singing, you could go to town on a choir but opt for a simple coffin.

If they wouldn’t care about flowers or a fancy coffin, use the money towards other things that might have mattered more to them, like a wake after the funeral.

Plan ahead

Making plans for your own funeral is one of the best ways to reduce the strain on those left behind and make sure you get the send-off you want.

There are many choices you can make now to reduce the bill for your funeral. And recording your wishes can help those closest to you financially and emotionally when the time comes.

If you're thinking about planning your funeral, why not try our My Perfect Send-Off tool. It’s a free and simple way to record your funeral wishes and share them with loved ones.

Related articles:

• What is a direct cremation
• How to personalise a funeral
• What to do when someone dies