Funerals are a ritual that help loved ones begin the grieving process. For many families, a funeral is a big expense, often coming after an illness that has already stressed their budget. It is commonly thought that thinking about your budget for a funeral isn’t dignified. You should be prepared to spend any amount, not letting the funeral be influenced by money. With today’s economy, this is completely unjustified. No one should be spending thousands of dollars without considering the value of what they are getting. A dignified funeral can still be affordable. Here are some tips for staying within your budget while making tough decisions about how to honor the deceased.

What Would the Deceased Want?

Before you get too deep into planning the perfect funeral, think about the deceased and how you should proceed with your budget. Would your loved one want you to go into debt for a funeral or spend your savings on this ceremony? There’s no denying that you will have to pay some costs that were unexpected but think about what your loved one would want.

Take Your Time Planning

There are some time restraints on planning a funeral, so you may feel pressured to make decisions. You may need to come up with a plan to handle the body very quickly. You can choose a direct cremation or direct burial, which are two options that can save money. The memorial service can be held later, which gives you more time to plan to find ways to honor your loved one’s memory while still holding a respectful service. It’s okay to call a few funeral homes to decide who to use. You may also want to ask about death benefits. Find out whether your loved one had any union benefits, life insurance policies or military benefits that could help cover the expenses of the funeral.

Only Purchase the Services You Want

When you go to the funeral home to make the final arrangements, you may feel pressured to buy services you don’t want or need. You don’t have to purchase the packages that are offered. You can choose just the services you want. Take a friend or colleague with you who knows your budget and can ask the more difficult questions or negotiate on your behalf. Hold to your budget, even if you think that the staff may look down on you. Your goal is to provide a respectful send-off for your loved one while managing your expenses.

Hold Your Own Services

There’s no reason you have to pay a venue to host a memorial service. Your church or community center may not charge anything to hold a small gathering for friends and family. This can give you more control over your budget while still holding a ceremony that honors your loved one. By hosting your own service, you aren’t locked into the services from a funeral home. Print your own memorial cards. Select flowers from your garden instead of buying an arrangement from the florist.

Funerals Are for the Living

The funeral may be all about the deceased’s memory, but the funeral is really for the loved ones of the deceased. Use your own traditions and values to have a budgeted funeral while you remember your loved one. No one is checking a box that says you did the funeral right by spending thousands of dollars outside of your budget.

Don’t feel bad for sticking to a budget for the funeral. Remembering your loved one isn’t about how much you spend on their final expenses. It’s about holding the memories of your loved one while your life goes forward without them. Instead of feeling disrespectful for asking about costs, think of it as finding solutions for honoring your loved one.