Get Out Your Checkbook!As of 2010 average funeral costs, excluding cemetery expenses (e.g., plot, opening and closing, marker and
setting), were $7,755. Here is the breakdown:
Funeral Costs
The average cost of an adult funeral, excluding cemetery, monument/marker costs, or miscellaneous cash advance charges such as flowers or obituaries, includes the following basic items:
Item Price*
Non-declinable basic services fee………………………$1,817
Removal/transfer of remains to funeral home………$250
Embalming……………………………………………………..$628
Other preparation of the body……………………………$200
Use of facilities/staff for viewing………………………….$395
Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony……………$450
Use of a hearse……………………………………………….$275
Use of a service car/van……………………………………$125
Basic memorial printed package…………………………$125
Subtotal without Casket:……………………………………$4,265
Metal Casket…………………………………………………..$2,295
AVERAGE COST OF A FUNERAL……………………..$6,560
Vault………………………………………………………………$1,195
Total Cost of a Funeral with Vault………………………$7,755
*2010 NFDA General Price List Survey.
Remember, $7,755 doesn’t include everything. Add in marker costs and miscellaneous charges such as flowers and obituaries, and you could easily spend $10,000 to $15,000.
The funeral bills aren’t the only bills that remain to be paid. If your loved one passes and you depended on them for income, things will definitely change. According to Social Security Laws and regulations(www.socialsecurity.gov under survivors benefits), when your spouse passes away, monthly income can decrease by as much as one-third. Here is a list of things that stay constant or could potentially cost you more money than the actual funeral:
Are you ready to write that check for your final expenses?
setting), were $7,755. Here is the breakdown:
Funeral Costs
The average cost of an adult funeral, excluding cemetery, monument/marker costs, or miscellaneous cash advance charges such as flowers or obituaries, includes the following basic items:
Item Price*
Non-declinable basic services fee………………………$1,817
Removal/transfer of remains to funeral home………$250
Embalming……………………………………………………..$628
Other preparation of the body……………………………$200
Use of facilities/staff for viewing………………………….$395
Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony……………$450
Use of a hearse……………………………………………….$275
Use of a service car/van……………………………………$125
Basic memorial printed package…………………………$125
Subtotal without Casket:……………………………………$4,265
Metal Casket…………………………………………………..$2,295
AVERAGE COST OF A FUNERAL……………………..$6,560
Vault………………………………………………………………$1,195
Total Cost of a Funeral with Vault………………………$7,755
*2010 NFDA General Price List Survey.
Remember, $7,755 doesn’t include everything. Add in marker costs and miscellaneous charges such as flowers and obituaries, and you could easily spend $10,000 to $15,000.
The funeral bills aren’t the only bills that remain to be paid. If your loved one passes and you depended on them for income, things will definitely change. According to Social Security Laws and regulations(www.socialsecurity.gov under survivors benefits), when your spouse passes away, monthly income can decrease by as much as one-third. Here is a list of things that stay constant or could potentially cost you more money than the actual funeral:
- Insurance
- Mortgage
- Utilities
- Rent
- Car gas
- Car payment
- Medical bills
- Nursing home bills
- Estate planning
Are you ready to write that check for your final expenses?