4 Affordable Alternatives to a Traditional Funeral

As ceremonial and elaborate as traditional funerals are, they are expensive. Cremation services in Phoenix, AZ, and other types of burial, offer a more affordable approach with additional benefits. In this article, we outline alternatives to a traditional funeral that are worth considering:

1. Direct Cremation

Direct cremation is the simplest and least expensive form of funeral. It involves the immediate cremation of a body after death with no visitation or service. This allows you to forego expenses like embalming, casket, and burial plot. A direct cremation can cost less than $1,000, and the ashes are returned to the family within a few days. If you choose direct cremation, your family will need to make arrangements for the disposition of ashes, which can happen in various ways. After receiving the ashes, families can have a memorial service or celebration of life later when it’s emotionally and fiscally convenient.

2. Cremation with a Memorial Service

Cremation with a memorial service is a more elaborate version of direct cremation. It involves the cremation of the body and the memorial service, but it doesn’t include a casket, embalming, or burial. Cremations with memorial services are often held at funeral homes, but you can have it anywhere to reduce costs further. For instance, you can have it in free spaces like a park or church. The cost of a cremation with a memorial service is much higher than a direct cremation, and the ceremony is more immediate. Still, it’s less than the cost of a traditional funeral.

3. Green Burial

Green burial is the least expensive burial option because you don’t need to purchase a fancy casket or embalming. A funeral director is also not necessary. There’s no need to pay for a burial vault, which is a few extra thousand dollars in a traditional funeral expense. The body is buried in a biodegradable casket or shroud, allowing the body to return to the earth naturally. The costs of a green burial vary from site to site but choosing this option can save you up to $2,000 over a traditional funeral. Green burial is also becoming more popular because it’s more environmentally friendly than traditional burials. Hence, it’s worth considering if you or the deceased are concerned about reducing your negative impact on the environment.

4. Home Burial

If you’re a do-it-yourself type of person, you might want to consider home burial. You can bury the body in your backyard or family property, which is cheaper than a cemetery. Home burial also does not require a funeral director. However, you must follow specific rules to ensure a proper burial. So, make sure you do thorough research beforehand. Arranging the funeral yourself affords you more room to personalize and save on different aspects of the funeral, including having a natural burial without a casket or burial vault. Also, you don’t have to pay venue costs since it’s happening on your property.

If you’re on a tight budget, these are a few ways to save money on the funeral. However, cremation is an easily accessible option if you’re looking for an alternative that doesn’t involve planning the entire funeral yourself. Our Phoenix, AZ cremation service offers full concierge services, be it non-ceremonial or traditional cremation. We are here for you, 24/7. Call us now to set up an appointment with our funeral director.