The cost of living crisis doesn’t just affect the living, it also catches out the dead.
Perhaps it is more apt to say the ones the dead leave behind. Funeral prices have soared in recent years, with new research revealing that an average funeral cost measures in at a whopping £4,141, but can lead up to an alarming £9,658. For what used to be a celebration of life, thousands of Brits are feeling the pinch and forking out more than three pay checks worth of cash for their deceased loved ones.
In result, thousands are choosing fuss-free cremations and low-key burials to dodge the extortionate costs. Jordan Flynn, Research Manager at SunLife looked into the financial crises of funerals and the emerging trends of the back door burials.
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Speaking to the Daily Star, he said only 43% of dying people leave money for their funeral. According to the latest from SunLife Cost of Dying Report, only 43% of people so so. Loved ones are left to face an average shortfall of £1,872.
Some funeral directors have stepped up to help families: “[they] do offer more affordable options, including direct cremations – which is a cremation without a service. This type of funeral has grown from comprising just 3% of funerals in 2019 to 20% today.
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“Costing an average of £1,498, direct cremations are over £2,000 cheaper than traditional cremations, and 98% of funeral directors now provide this service. However, this cost doesn’t include any kind of service or celebration of life, which most choose to arrange alongside a direct cremation.”
While this might work for some families, he suggests others might feel pressure to spend more than necessary. A whopping 57% of organisers said they felt strain to give their loved ones a proper send off.
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There are some ways to cut corners, says Mr. Flynn: “93% of funeral directors say they see people overspending, with the vast majority saying people tend to overspend on flowers. They advise families to cut costs by skipping limousines (average spend £402), opting for a single meaningful floral tribute rather than many arrangements (average spend £220), and using social media for announcements rather than traditional newspaper notices (£93).”
“Interestingly, 37% of people say they want their family to spend as little as possible on their funeral. By planning ahead and embracing cost-effective options, families can honour their loved ones while avoiding financial – and emotional – strain.”
Recently a trend of no-fuss cremations has emerged which sees families send off their loves ones with a simple cremation with no service, wake or special coffins and add-ons. Families can simply get the ashes returned when they are ready.
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