Average Funeral Costs in The US?

It isn’t really easy, or maybe even relevant, to come up with an average funeral cost in the US. So many factors can afffect the final tally. But people are curious to find out how much it costs for a so-called traditional American funeral. The article links above show that it is easy for the cost to top $8,000 – $10,000 or even more!

Suggestions like holding the ceremony away from the funeral home and purchasing a plain coffin can trim hundreds, or thousands, of dollars from the bill. Coffins can vary in price from less than $1,000 to over $20,000! Gravesite monuments can also vary in cost from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. The best way to avoid spending too much on a burial and funeral is to do some prior planning.

If you want to plan for your own funeral, or if you need to take care of final arrangements for a loved one, go ahead and find out what you need to do, and how much it will cost. Look at the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) Funeral Consumer Guide to help you get started. It is amazing how much good, free information that the US federal government publishes if you know to start looking for it.

Options for coming up with the cash to pay for a funeral include a savings account, pre-need plans from funeral homes, and final expense policies from insurance companies. It is really important to think about the money you will need, and also where you will get it from. After a loved one dies, the family will have plenty of sources of stress and grief without having to quickly come up with 8 to 10 grand in a hurry!