It is not unusual for mourners to request lavish funerals that they cannot afford from a funeral home in Bronx, NY. Experienced funeral directors empathize with the emotional and financial stress of the funeral, and are going to explain the cost of every service they offer. It’s easy to overspend on a funeral at a time of grief, which is why it is wise to pre-plan or budget for a funeral. Here are tips on how to avoid emotional overspending while still honoring your loved one.

Acknowledge Your Emotions

Since emotions can cause you to overspend either because of feelings of guilt or for other reasons, you need to take time and process your feelings before making financial decisions. Grieving is a normal process when you lose a loved one, so it’s important to allow yourself to feel the pain. If you feel you cannot handle the grief alone, talk to close friends and family members or seek grief counseling. This will make it easier to make crucial decisions for the funeral.

Stick to the budget

Next, set a budget and stick to it. The cost of a funeral is ranked with other major purchases such as home and car purchases. That means when budgeting for a funeral you need to research funeral costs in your local area. Every funeral home you visit is going to provide a general price list that line-items all costs. This will help you determine an appropriate budget for the funeral. Funeral costs can be categorized in two ways, costs for funeral goods and services, and costs for third-party items. You should also consider the deceased's wishes for the funeral in your budget.

Research your options

Most of the time the options available to you are determined by your budget or the type of funeral you prefer. If all you want is a direct cremation, all you have to consider is the paperwork involved and the manner in which the cremains will be delivered to you. For a traditional funeral, you must think about the funeral service, viewings, visitation, and burial plots. Other options include the celebration of life, green burial, and direct burial. Each option has its pros and cons, so choosing the one that aligns with your budget and personal preferences is important.

There are alternatives to traditional funerals

You don’t have to settle for a traditional funeral. There are many alternatives such as green burials, celebrations of life, direct cremation, and more. Choose an option that not only saves you money but also serves as a meaningful tribute to the deceased.

Avoid things that trigger overspending

Emotional triggers such as guilt and the desire to "do everything" for the deceased can lead to overspending. Guilt might be because you feel your deceased loved one deserves a more elaborate and fancy funeral than you can afford and so on.

Our funeral home in Bronx, NY will work with you using a thoughtful and practical approach to funeral planning to help you avoid emotional overspending. Honoring your loved one doesn't have to come at an excessive cost.