Put your funeral plans in order
Planning your funeral does not mean you have to pre-pay for it. Putting your funeral plans in order is a wonderful service to your family and loved ones. It can be difficult for your family to make the right choices when they are experiencing the grief of your death. So, help them make this major purchase, by making the decisions with a clear mind. Everyone should approach funeral plans as they would any other major purchase. The following are some points to consider when putting your funeral plans in order:
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1. Comparison shop. Funeral homes are not always equally priced. Many people do not take the time to compare prices for complete packages from different funeral homes. So, call all the funeral homes in your area, and ask for itemized pricing sheets, so that you can comparison shop and find the best prices. Do it at home though, otherwise you might feel pressured to buy something on the spot, when your goal here is to find the best price, not just buy a funeral.
2. Visit www.funerals.org. This site is going to give you information that will help you make the arrangements for your funeral. You can join a society, such as the FCA, that will help you to get discounts, know what average costs are, and find the best funeral homes in your area.
3. Open a Totten. This is basically a trust that you have a lot of control over. You can add to it, withdraw money from it, cash it out if you change your mind. You can pretty much do as much as you want, and when you die, your family or beneficiary gets instant access to it. They do not have to wait for probate, which means that the expense of your funeral can be covered before they deal with courts, judges, and attorneys.
4. Write out your funeral plans, and any that you have already paid for and set. Make copies and give it to your family. Do not just put it in your will or safe deposit box, as what happens if you die on a weekend, and arrangements need to be made before a safe deposit box can be opened? So, give a copy to your attorney, and your family.
5. Review your plans regularly. If you move, you may need to change your funeral plans. If your circumstances change, you may need to change your funeral plans. So, make a point of reviewing your plans yearly to make sure that they still are valid for you and your situation.
6. Check with the FTC to make sure that you are not getting ripped off, and that you are paying prices within their regulations for your funeral expenses. You can get a free consumer's guide to funeral planning from the FTC. So, before planning your funeral, order one and review it.
