Funerals. It’s a horrible word, they’re horrible things. Nobody wants to think about them, nobody wants to talk about them. However, it’s a fact of life that, at some point in the future, we’ll all be having one.
If we all accept that one day we’ll be having a funeral, it makes total sense to plan for it. Having a plan in place will save your family the stress and cost of arranging your funeral at what will be a very upsetting, emotional time for them. It will also ensure you have the funeral you want and, last but not least, it will save you money. For the same reasons, it’s also vital to make sure that your loved ones have plans for their funerals.
This won’t be something that anybody wants to spend time doing, but once you’ve done it, it’s done. You can then feel very pleased with yourself for planning your future and protecting your family and finances and you can then forget all about it!
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably already thinking about Funeral Plans and whether or not you need one. Are you asking yourself these sorts of questions?:
- Are you trying to put a plan in place for your future, for example Wills, Powers of Attorney etc and wondering whether a Funeral Plan should be part of those plans?
- Are you worried about how to pay for your funeral and/or are you worried about your loved ones having to pay the cost of your funeral?
- Are you concerned that you may have to pay for the funeral costs of your loved ones?
- Are you worried about leaving your loved ones the responsibility and expense of arranging your funeral and do your loved ones even know the type of funeral you would like?
- Who will be responsible for arranging your funeral?
- How do I arrange a funeral for a loved one?
If you’re thinking about these sorts of issues, it’s probably time to start putting a Funeral Plan in place for your and your loved ones. Leech & Co can help you set up a Funeral Plan in a few quick and easy steps so call us on 0161 749 9000 / 07572 373 813or at e-mail us at [email protected] and we can talk you through the whole process.
We think Funeral Plans are so important to put in place as part of the plan for your future and your family’s future that we have devoted a whole section on our website to them but we’ve set out below the main points you might want to think about.
What is a Funeral Plan?
A Funeral Plan is a way of saving to pay for the cost of your funeral i.e. you pay a one-off payment or a series of monthly payments (up to a maximum of 25 years) which guarantees the cost of the type of funeral you have chosen. You can also personalise the type of funeral you want i.e. whether you want to be buried or cremated, the type of music or readings you want at the service etc.
What will the Funeral Plan pay for?
A Funeral Plan will generally include the following:
- Full cost of Cremation / contribution to cost of burial;
- Full, personal support from local Funeral Director;
- Guidance from the funeral director as to the process and paperwork;
- Collection, transportation, care and presentation of the body of the deceased;
- Coffin;
- Funeral director, driver and pallbearer to attend the funeral;
- Hearse and limousine for the family.
The Funeral Plan won’t include certain things, such as the cost of flowers or the wake etc, but your choice for these things can be included with the Funeral Plan and the Funeral Director at the time can help your family to arrange them.
How will a Funeral Plan save me money?
The cost of Funerals is rising all the time. In 2019, the average cost of a Funeral was in the region of £4,000.00. It’s estimated that in the next 5 years, the average cost will have risen to approximately £6,000.00. It is expected that these costs will continue to rise in the future.
The Funeral Plan saves you money by fixing the price of your Funeral at today’s prices and it guarantees to cover the cost of the funeral no matter how much funeral costs rise in the future.
You can pay for your Funeral by saving money into a savings account or an ISA or pay into an insurance scheme, but these savings may not meet the rising cost of Funerals so your loved ones may be left to pay for any shortfall. Also, you could continue to pay into these savings schemes for the rest of your life and you end up paying too much. This would mean you and your loved ones wouldn’t be able to spend the overpaid amount on other things during your lifetime.
Having a Funeral Plan means you know exactly the amount you need to pay and you know exactly what you’ve paid for. This will save you money and give you peace of mind that your Funeral is the one you want and it’s all paid for.
How will a Funeral Plan help my family?
A Funeral Plan will help your family by removing the need for them to arrange and pay for your Funeral immediately after you have died. At that time, your loved ones will understandably be upset, emotional and stressed. Do they really want to be discussing your funeral, making all the arrangements and finding the money to pay for it? Do they even know what sort of Funeral you would want? Might they fall out about what they think is the best Funeral for you?
It’s obvious that at that time, your loved ones need to be focussing on grieving and supporting each other. They do not need the burden of arranging and paying for your Funeral. With a Funeral Plan, all your loved ones need to do is call the appointed Funeral Director and the Funeral Director will take care of the arrangements. Of course, the cost of the funeral has already been taken care of.
Is a Funeral Plan right for me?
In terms of money, there are different types of Funeral Plans at different prices and there are different payment periods so there will be one to suit your budget.
In terms of what’s included, everything you could need for a Funeral will be covered and paid for. You can then personalise it and express your wishes for the parts that aren’t included, for example, flowers, hymns, the wake etc so you will know that your Funeral will be your Funeral.
In terms of whether you qualify for a Funeral Plan, the plans are available to everyone over the age of 50, there are no medical or health restrictions, there are no upper age limits (although payments must be completed by the age of 85) and there are choices as to Funeral Plan providers so you will be able to find a plan to suit you.
What should I do now?
It’s our advice that everyone should have a Funeral Plan in place as early as possible. It’s a vital part of any plan for the future for you and your loved ones. There are many benefits to having a Funeral Plan, but there are many risks and downsides if you don’t have one in place.
If you would like to discuss Funeral Plans or any part of a plan for the future, for example Wills, Powers of Attorney etc, call us for a free, no obligation initial chat on 0161 749 9000 / 07572 373 813 or e-mail us at [email protected] and we can talk you through the whole process and help you to get started.
However, if you would like to read more about Funeral Plans and how we can help you, read our Funeral Plan section on our website here.
