Why are funerals so expensive? And how can we bring in affordable funeral service?
This is an often asked question… but it’s not a fully formed one. What we really have to ask is, is a funeral expensive compared to some comparable thing, for example the cost of a wedding, and how can one navigate the expenses for affordable funeral service?
A traditional funeral service at a crematorium with light catering for 50 people currently ranges between $4,000 to $8,000 depending on what a family requests. A quick google search suggests that a well organised (but not extravagant) wedding in Australia costs between $10,000 and $30,000 depending on what a family requests. The average cost of catering alone at a wedding for 50 people is about $5,000.
Births, deaths and marriages are often mentioned together because they are significant life events that we humans want and need to acknowledge and celebrate. Ultimately if, and how, we acknowledge these significant moments is a personal (family) decision, and, for the most part, the cost is a reflection of our choices.
Increased pricing transparency and greater competition in the funeral sector means that obtaining professional assistance at a fair and reasonable cost is actually more achievable today than it was 40 years ago. Back then, the funeral service companies were closed shops operated behind a cloak of artificial decorum and secrecy that made them socially unacceptable to question the bill let alone seek a breakdown of the fees.
If a family is dealing with genuine financial hardship the cost of a funeral will be a burden in the same way as, say, unexpected medical expenses. Fortunately there are some organisations that specialise in providing affordable funerals and cremation services to families in distress.
However, for most of us who are fortunate enough to be able to afford an appropriate and meaningful funeral service, the emotional and social benefits are worth every cent.
In the scheme of things the average funeral is not expensive. Beyond the essential requirements (see below) the ultimate cost of a funeral is based on the type of funeral you want to have to celebrate a life ended. At Potter’s Field Funerals, our funeral home company strives to provide affordable funerals and meaningful farewells just the way you envision them to be.
Funeral Preparedness: Sorting Crucial Items From The Optional
When a person dies, there are a number of practical, essential things that (practically and legally) need to be done to organise the actual burial or cremation of the person’s body (I’ll go into this further below). Then there are a range of non-essential, but important and meaningful, things that most of us want to happen – the funeral ceremony.
Essential things include:
- the immediate transportation and accommodation of the deceased
- some form of coffin or container
- organisation of death certificates and death registration paperwork
- the final disposition of the body i.e. the actual burial or cremation
Deaths commonly occur at hospitals or care facilities or at home. In all these cases there is a practical need for the body to be transported to a mortuary facility with refrigerated accommodation. Regardless of the type of funeral chosen, a coffin or shroud and carrier of some type is necessary. Laws in each State in Australia require the production of medical certificates and permits and registration of the death.
Affordable funeral homes are vital for families in need. From a practical and legal point of view, beyond the actions listed above, virtually everything else we do when a death occurs is a choice and not absolutely necessary. Of course, there are a great many things that we human beings regularly do and greatly value that are not essential.
We don’t have to have birthday parties for our children, go to football matches, do crossword puzzles, paint pictures or listen to music – but we do because these things enrich our lives.
Equally, we don’t have to organise an event or ceremony to mark and honour the death of a friend or family member – but we do because we are alive and feel the loss. Funerals help us address the social and emotional impact of a death, and while they may not be a legal requirement, it might be reasonable to argue that they really are essential acts for us as living beings.
Understanding How Much to Budget for a Proper Goodbye?
In general terms the cost of a funeral comes down to the extent of the professional services requested by a family. At present, a simple attended funeral can be organised for between $3,500 and $6,000. Equally, a funeral with service that includes extra services and events (e.g. a church service, catering etc) could cost two to three times that amount depending on personal preferences and the number of people expected to attend.
Affordable funeral services are crucial for families facing financial constraints. There is, however, one simple principle that should guide the planning of any funeral, and that is to avoid going into debt. If a family is dealing with genuine financial hardship the cost of a funeral can be an unexpected financial burden on top of the challenge of buying nutritious food, paying the rent/mortgage and energy bills etc etc.The emotional stress that often accompanies a death and funeral are significant, so to add a later burden of debt is a situation to be avoided.
Back to the question, ‘How much should a funeral cost?’. Provided it is affordable for the individual or family, the cost of the funeral is often of less importance than the social and emotional benefits of organising an appropriate event to allow people to come together in a meaningful way.
Budget funeral plans can help alleviate the financial strain on families.There is an old saying that is in the form of a question and answer:
How much water does it take to put out a fire? The answer is ‘just enough’.
This is a useful principle to apply when considering the budget for a funeral. How much money should be spent? Enough to meet the practical, cultural and personal needs of the family.
Affordable Funerals (Burial) Vs Cremation, Why Is The Cost So Different?
It often happens that when a death occurs family members imagine a burial in a cemetery or burial ground. Then when they begin to explore options they find out that a burial can cost two or five times as much as cremation depending on where they live.
Budget funeral home options can help reduce costs. Whether you are organising a burial or cremation, there is no significant difference in the complexity or cost of the funeral service itself (the ceremony). The difference lies in the costs and fees charged by the cemetery which include the purchase of a Right of Interment (the grave) and the fees for digging and refilling the grave.
The cost of graves is based (to a greater or lesser degree) on the cost of land in the area. Accordingly, in rural and remote areas cemetery costs are often still reasonable, however, in metropolitan locations cemetery costs can be astronomical. Factors here include (as mentioned) the cost of land generally, limited space in older inner city cemeteries, the relative profitability of crematoriums and the on-going cost of maintenance of cemeteries.
The last two factors are related. It is a given that old style headstone or lawn cemeteries are expensive to maintain (watering, weeding, keeping roads etc). As a result, many old cemeteries are associated with crematoriums so that profits from cremations can be used to pay for upkeep of cemeteries. At first glance this seems like a reasonable strategy, but it has had the effect of ‘pushing‘ cremation because of cost, and making the choice of burial an elite, high cost option. Affordable funeral homes, like Potter’s Field Funerals, offer alternatives for families seeking budget-friendly funeral options.
People should have the option to choose a burial or cremation based on their beliefs and preferences, not cost. It is an unfortunate fact that the evolution of traditional cemeteries (in metro areas) has made this impossible for many. Though still in its early days in Australia, efforts to establish natural burial grounds on the fringes of cites offers some hope for the future by offering affordable, sustainable burial options.
Financial Hardships & Funerals – What If You Can’t Afford?
Not everyone makes funeral plans ahead of time, and, of course, a death can occur unexpectedly. In either case, an individual family may find themselves unable to meet the cost of a funeral. Fortunately there are some State Government schemes and organisations that specialise in assisting families in financial distress.
If it is the case that a family can demonstrate extreme financial distress, most State governments have schemes that can provide for the dignified disposal of the body at no cost. To be clear, these schemes cover just the cremation or burial of the deceased. Government funds are not usually available to fund an actual funeral service. To be eligible for this assistance families usually need to provide evidence of financial distress (bank statements etc).
In Victoria, a charitable provider operating as Bereavement Assistance provides specialised assistance for families in distress. Bereavement Assistance helps eligible families to access government support, and in most cases can provide simple, very low cost funeral services.
In other States, a good starting place is to contact a local funeral director and determine if they are willing to assist in exploring possible assistance.
Affordable funeral home near you can be a good resource when families are in need of financial assistance for a funeral. Contacting a traditional funeral service company can also help with understanding available options during such difficult times. Potter’s Field Funerals offers fully-inclusive funeral services in all areas of Melbourne and regional Victoria, liaising with third parties on your behalf. We always take into account your budgets and requirements when planning an intimate and dignified send-off for your loved one.
Explore more about affordable funeral services on our website or call us at (03) 9568 4047.
Written by Kevin Hartley
About the author:
Kevin Hartley has been involved in every aspect of the funeral industry for 30 years. He focuses now on promoting sustainable funeral practices, natural burial grounds and has a passion for encouraging people to participate in truly meaningful end-of-life practices and events. His writings combine years of practical experience with formal psychological insights.
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