Funeral costs can escalate to unimaginable levels, especially for conventional funerals where you have to plan for items such as a casket, food, flowers, acknowledgement cards, obituaries, memorials, and transport. For those on a bare-bones budget, planning is key, especially when geared towards cost-reduction. In light of this reality, direct cremation is seen as a low-cost solution to giving a loved one a decent sendoff. Direct cremation is a method of burial whereby the body of a deceased is cremated a few days after death. Direct cremation is affordable because it does not require a funeral service. This article delves into direct cremation as an affordable option for those on a low budget.

Direct Cremation Package 

Direct cremation does not require a funeral service, which can turn out to be very expensive. The ideal package for a direct cremation consists of transport to a funeral home for cremation, the actual cremation, an urn and the return of ashes to a family. Rather than use an expensive casket, direct cremation uses simple containers. The containers should be fully combustible, and they are usually made from simple materials such as wood, recycled cardboard, wicker and bamboo. Remember that the funeral home should help you take care of legal paperwork before a direct cremation can occur, including authorisation for cremation and death certificate.

Memorial Service

Since direct cremation happens in the days following a loved one's death, it is difficult to hold a memorial service to remember a deceased person. If you insist on holding a memorial service, it can only be practical at a later date after cremation. A memorial service can be held a week or a month after a body has been cremated. Therefore, having a direct cremation in no way denies family and friends an opportunity to hold a memorial service, but it sometimes postpones it to a future date once a family receives the ashes of a deceased.

Cost

Direct cremation costs vary depending on various factors. A container or casket affects the overall cost of cremation, and thus, it is advisable to opt for low-cost cremation containers. Besides, since there is no wake, visitation or viewing of a body before cremation takes place, the cost of direct cremation is reduced significantly because the method eliminates the need for preparing a body or embalming it. However, if you want to bury the cremated remains of a deceased person, then you must factor in the added cemetery costs and fees, including headstone, plot, and the cost of digging a grave.

Speak to a funeral home if you are curious about this option.