Most of us plan for the biggest events in our lifetime: school, weddings, careers and retirement. We also plan for what’s possible, the potential misfortunes of life that may happen, which is why we have insurance for our house, car, and health. Doesn’t it make sense to plan for what we know will happen?
Pre-Planning Can Reduce Stress
For many people, speaking with a family member or a funeral professional about final arrangements is not the most comfortable or enjoyable conversation. For those who choose to plan their final arrangements in advance, most find that it provides peace-of mind that their family will be saved the emotional and financial burden when you pass. Pre-Planning allows you to control what type of service you want and which merchandise items you’d like. You can customize specific requests for your service and even write your own obituary if you choose. You can take full control of your preferences or legally delegate who you would like to give permission to make final decisions on your behalf. Most importantly, pre-planning allows decisions to be made without the grief, emotions or possibly the shock of losing a loved one suddenly.
Pre-Funding Can Save Costs
The cost of a funeral or memorial service arrangement today can typically range from $5,000-$15,000 depending on your selections. How and when you choose to pay for final arrangements comes with many options including paying in full, paying a portion, making flexible payments or making structured monthly payments.
Paying in advance guarantees that there will be no additional costs to your service and merchandise no matter how long you live. Why is that important? Funeral and Cemetery expenses increase nationally an average of 4% each year. That may not seem significant but if your pre-arrangement selections cost $10,000 today, it only takes 5 years for the same arrangement to cost $12,167. In 10 years, that same arrangement will cost $14,802. If you make your arrangements in your 60’s and live into your 80’s or 90’s, you can save a considerable amount of money.
Pre-planning and funding your final arrangement helps eliminate the need for your family to determine who is responsible for, or capable of, paying for your services. It’s the last and one of the greatest gifts you can leave your family.
Rich Buchanan is the Pre-Arrangement Counselor for Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory with locations in New Castle, Newark, Middletown and Delaware City in Delaware. If you have additional questions, contact Rich at Rich@spicermullikin.com or (302) 368-9500