When someone dies, their loved ones are left to deal with the emotional and logistical nightmare of organizing a funeral. This process can be incredibly difficult, especially if the deceased had not preplanned their funeral.
Preplanning a funeral is a way to take some of the burden off your loved ones after you die. In this article, Willow’s Made in the UK coffin explores the reasons why you should preplan your funeral:
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What is funeral preplanning?
Before we get into the reasons why you should preplan your funeral, let’s first discuss what preplanning a funeral is.
Preplanning a funeral is making arrangements for your funeral before you die. This can involve choosing the type of service you want, the coffin or urn you would like to be buried or cremated in, and selecting the readings and music that will be played.
You can preplan your funeral by yourself or with the help of a funeral director. If you preplan your funeral with a funeral director, they will usually put your wishes in writing so that they can be followed after you die. Now let’s take a look at the reasons why preplanning your funeral is a good idea.
1. You can choose how you want to be remembered
One of the main advantages of preplanning your funeral is that you can control how you are remembered after you die. You get to decide what kind of service you want and what kind of lasting impression you want to leave on your loved ones.
Do you want a traditional funeral service with a eulogy and readings from the Bible? Or do you want something more unique, like a celebration of life party? The choice is up to you!
Why is this important?
According to research, how we are remembered after we die greatly impacts our loved ones’ grieving process. A study published in the journal “Psychological Science” found that when people were asked to think about how they wanted to be remembered after they died, they felt less fear and anxiety about death.
Think about it: If you preplan your funeral and let your loved ones know what you want, they will be able to focus on celebrating your life rather than worrying about how to honor your memory.
2. You take the burden off your loved ones.
Grieving the loss of a loved one is hard enough – your loved ones shouldn’t have to worry about the logistics of your funeral.
If you preplan your funeral, you can take care of all the details in advance so that your loved ones don’t have to. Instead, they can focus on supporting each other and celebrating your life.
Why is this important?
In the moment’s stress, it can be difficult for your loved ones to decide about your funeral.
Some family members end up fighting over what they think you would have wanted. By preplanning your funeral, you can avoid this potential conflict and ensure that your loved ones can support each other during this difficult time.
Plus, making decisions about a funeral is an emotional process – and it can be hard to think clearly when grieving.
3. You can save your loved ones’ money
Preplanning your funeral can also save your loved ones’ money. How? When you preplan your funeral, you can lock in today’s prices for services and products.
This means that even if the cost of living increases or the price of funerals increases, your loved ones won’t have to pay more.
Why is this important?
According to a report from the National Funeral Directors Association report, the average funeral cost is $7500. And that’s not including the cost of a cemetery plot or tombstone!
You can save your loved ones from this financial burden by preplanning your funeral and paying for it in advance.
Plus, you can use preplanning to set up a payment plan that fits your budget. This way, you can pay for your funeral over time – without putting a strain on anyone’s finances.
4. You can ensure your funeral is eco-friendly
If you’re concerned about the environment, preplanning your funeral is a great way to ensure it’s eco-friendly. Nowadays, there are many green options for funerals, from Bamboo eco wicker coffins to solar-powered grave markers.
Why is this important?
Eco-friendly funerals are becoming increasingly popular as people look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. By preplanning your funeral, you can make sure that it’s eco-friendly – without sacrificing your wishes or your budget.
Plus, preplanning allows you to research different green options and find the perfect one for you.
For example, if you want a biodegradable coffin, you can preplan to have one made out of bamboo or wool. Or, if you’re interested in solar-powered grave markers, you can preplan to have them installed at your funeral.
5. There are tax benefits
Did you know there are tax benefits to preplanning your funeral? You can deduct the cost from your taxes when you preplan your funeral and pay for it in advance. This is because funerals are considered a medical expense.
Why is this important?
Let’s break it down: The average funeral cost is $7500. If you preplan your funeral and pay for it in advance, you can deduct the cost from your taxes; meaning you would only have to pay taxes on $5000 of your income.
This can save you a significant amount of money – especially if you’re in a high tax bracket. Moreover, preplanning your funeral can help you save for other medical expenses. For example, preplanning your funeral can help you pay for long-term care or medication if you have a chronic disease.
6. You can choose the type of service you want – religious or secular.
We previously discussed how preplanning your funeral could save your loved ones from making difficult decisions. But preplanning also allows you to decide the type of service you want.
Do you want a religious ceremony? Or a secular one? It’s up to you! By preplanning your funeral, you can choose the type of service that you want.
Why does this matter?
Your funeral is a time to celebrate your life – and you should have a say in how it’s celebrated. The type of service you choose should reflect your wishes and your values.
For example, if you’re a religious person, you may want to preplan a funeral that includes a religious ceremony. Or, if you’re not religious, you may want to preplan a secular funeral.
7. You can pre-select the readings, music, and eulogies
In addition to choosing the type of service you want, preplanning your funeral also allows you to pre-select the readings, music, and eulogies. That means you can have a say in what’s said and sung at your funeral.
Why is this important?
Your funeral should be a time to reflect on your life – and the readings, music, and eulogies are critical.
For example, if you’re a fan of classical music, you may want to preplan to have Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” played at your funeral. Or, if you’re a fan of poetry, you may want to preplan to have a poem read at your funeral.
Similarly, preplanning allows you to do that if you want to ensure that your life is celebrated in a certain way.
For example, if you want to make sure that your family knows how much you loved them, you may have a eulogy that says exactly that.
Final Thoughts
We often don’t talk about death – but it’s an important part of life. By preplanning your funeral, you can control the situation and ensure that your wishes are fulfilled.
Not only that, but preplanning has several other benefits: saving your loved ones’ money and ensuring that your funeral is eco-friendly.
If you’re considering preplanning your funeral, we encourage you to research and find a reputable funeral home that can help you preplan the perfect funeral.
