Death doesn't come cheap

Death is expensive. There's no other way to say it. To make matters worse, the grieving family often has to pay much more for a funeral than they've anticipated. It's not such a big deal if there's insurance to cover these costs, but if there's not, the services that most people expect to provide for the deceased come at a hefty price tag.

The National Funeral Directors Association reported that the average cost for a funeral in 2009 (the last year for which they have data) was $6,560. Because my mother passed away the same year, I can tell you that those costs can go much higher. Her funeral was more than $8,000, and that's even considering that the funeral was held for free at the church and her burial plot was free because it was in her family's cemetery. Thankfully, she had insurance and everything was covered.

Unfortunately, when my brother passed away a year earlier, he had let his insurance lapse, and the rest of us were unaware of the situation. We found that out not long before he passed away, but by that time, no one would insure him due to his terminal medical condition. He wanted to be cremated, thinking that this would be easier for the family to afford. Some wanted a viewing, though, before the cremation took place. What would have been less than $1000 for a cremation ended up costing nearly $5,000 to have a public viewing with the body first. The casket for such occasions is even rented!

I'm not telling these stories to be a downer, but to help others realize just how costly a funeral service is nowadays, even if you go the "affordable" route. Life insurance is the best way to protect your loved ones. If your health is too poor for affordable life insurance, ask about burial insurance with a reputable agent. It may cost more, but doesn't involve a health exam.

Photo courtesy wickenden via Flickr.