How a funeral can cost less and still be beautiful

Funerals can cost less and be better when families and friends become more involved. We encourage this.

A more intimate and personal funeral doesn’t have to cost more and can be more beautiful than one with all the trappings.

Here are some ways money can be saved:

1. Hold the funeral at a venue such as our ceremony hall, or a village or community hall, followed by an unattended cremation the following morning. The venue can be decorated with photos and objects. This can save over £500 on cremation costs alone and be more personal.

2. Family and friends can bear the coffin instead of hiring a professional team of bearers, saving around £200.

3. You don’t need to use a hearse – around 50% of our clients opt for a less formal car. You can use your own vehicle (if large enough). This can save £175 – £275.

4. Choose a coffin carefully. A cardboard coffin may cost less and can be painted, decorated with pictures, drawings and messages to make a personal statement.

5. Ask people to bring something to the wake, food, drinks. People like to make a contribution. This can save £500 for a funeral with 50 people.

6. People can bring seasonal flowers from their gardens for much of the year.

7. If you are on certain benefits the DWP has a Social Fund to pay funeral costs up to £2000 and we will tailor a funeral to fit with that.

Funerals with greater involvement of family and friends are usually more personal and meaningful than the funeral with all the expensive bows and whistles. Love and care are more important.

We are transparent about costs. We don’t add cost to the things we buy on your behalf, not on coffins, cards, flowers. We will always work with each client to find a way to have a good funeral within a budget and we don’t ask for deposits up front. See our prices at https://www.heartandsoulfunerals.co.uk/funeral-costs/