Comments on: How to Put Your Deceased Loved One in the Ground for Under $1,000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/ Helping a unique generation achieve financial independence. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:31:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Rob O. http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-67103 Rob O. Sun, 06 Apr 2008 12:28:50 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-67103 My Mom recently passed away very suddenly and I found out all too quickly just how pricey this process can be. Even with going with fairly minimal options, we spent about $11.5k - and none of us were financially prepared to shoulder that unexpected load. Note that even if the decedent had life insurance to help defray these kinds of costs, you won't see that money for a few months. One thing I did to save was to buy a "pre-owned" plot. There are ads in the classified all the time for burial plots and these are half or even a third of the price of a new plot and can be in much more scenic, older sections of the cemetary. These are typically plots that families bought as a grouping, but then someone moves away or such and they don't end up needing all of them. Strange as it may sound, I also bought a discontinued, floorstock casket. It was far nicer - a pretty maple design with roses carved on the sides and a rose-themed pink lining - than the comparably-priced new models. Think long and hard about some of the other trimmings like the marker or tombstone. Are you truly likely to revisit your loved one's gravesite often? If so, then splurging an extra $1000 on a flower vase may well be worth every penny. My family is spread far & wide across the U.S. and I'm not the "go sit at the cemetary" type, so we opted to keep things very simple. You really do have to keep in mind the wishes or personal tastes of the person who has passed away. Again in our case, we knew from Mom that she placed little value on elaborate caskets or ornate headstones - she had always said that "any old pine box and a hole in the ground will do." She was very practical in nature, often remarking how what happens with her body after she's done with it is won't matter to her. Though not at all a financial issue, one last thing I'd urge people to consider is organ & tissue donation. A very common thread to our Mom's life was that she always left a place better than it was when she got there. If we visited relatives, we helped clean up before we left. When we left a campsite, it was litter-free. Well, this theme carried over after she died too - even though she had not previously made arrangements for such, I felt it only fitting to allow for organ & tissue donation via a very respectful non-profit organization called Legacy of Life. Once again - and quite literally - Mom left a place better than it was when she got there. I couldn't think of a finer tribute than to know that even after she was gone, she was still helping others. My Mom recently passed away very suddenly and I found out all too quickly just how pricey this process can be. Even with going with fairly minimal options, we spent about $11.5k – and none of us were financially prepared to shoulder that unexpected load.

Note that even if the decedent had life insurance to help defray these kinds of costs, you won’t see that money for a few months.

One thing I did to save was to buy a “pre-owned” plot. There are ads in the classified all the time for burial plots and these are half or even a third of the price of a new plot and can be in much more scenic, older sections of the cemetary. These are typically plots that families bought as a grouping, but then someone moves away or such and they don’t end up needing all of them.

Strange as it may sound, I also bought a discontinued, floorstock casket. It was far nicer – a pretty maple design with roses carved on the sides and a rose-themed pink lining – than the comparably-priced new models.

Think long and hard about some of the other trimmings like the marker or tombstone. Are you truly likely to revisit your loved one’s gravesite often? If so, then splurging an extra $1000 on a flower vase may well be worth every penny. My family is spread far & wide across the U.S. and I’m not the “go sit at the cemetary” type, so we opted to keep things very simple.

You really do have to keep in mind the wishes or personal tastes of the person who has passed away. Again in our case, we knew from Mom that she placed little value on elaborate caskets or ornate headstones – she had always said that “any old pine box and a hole in the ground will do.” She was very practical in nature, often remarking how what happens with her body after she’s done with it is won’t matter to her.

Though not at all a financial issue, one last thing I’d urge people to consider is organ & tissue donation. A very common thread to our Mom’s life was that she always left a place better than it was when she got there. If we visited relatives, we helped clean up before we left. When we left a campsite, it was litter-free. Well, this theme carried over after she died too – even though she had not previously made arrangements for such, I felt it only fitting to allow for organ & tissue donation via a very respectful non-profit organization called Legacy of Life. Once again – and quite literally – Mom left a place better than it was when she got there. I couldn’t think of a finer tribute than to know that even after she was gone, she was still helping others.

]]> By: Loans To Handle With Care: Think Hard Before Taking On This Debt http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-34239 Loans To Handle With Care: Think Hard Before Taking On This Debt Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:44:19 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-34239 [...] I suppose they have now invented loans for practically anything out there you can think of. Basically, these just sound like your typical loans with fancier names, usually associated with one-time events. Wedding and funeral loans exist because they cover events that are outside of ordinary expenses, which for many, take place with minimal preparation. But there are ways to avoid these high cost loans: go cheap and/or be prepared way ahead of time. [...] [...] I suppose they have now invented loans for practically anything out there you can think of. Basically, these just sound like your typical loans with fancier names, usually associated with one-time events. Wedding and funeral loans exist because they cover events that are outside of ordinary expenses, which for many, take place with minimal preparation. But there are ways to avoid these high cost loans: go cheap and/or be prepared way ahead of time. [...]

]]> By: The Best Frugality Advice: The Cheapest Ways To Do Anything » Silicon Valley Blog About Money http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-2234 The Best Frugality Advice: The Cheapest Ways To Do Anything » Silicon Valley Blog About Money Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:11:32 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-2234 [...] #10 Be charitable without spending a cent. To help others, you can donate something else other than money. How about donating your time and skills instead? It’s free. There’s also a really cheap way to pass away from this earth. How about donating yourself to science? [...] [...] #10 Be charitable without spending a cent. To help others, you can donate something else other than money. How about donating your time and skills instead? It’s free. There’s also a really cheap way to pass away from this earth. How about donating yourself to science? [...]

]]> By: plonkee http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1868 plonkee Mon, 26 Mar 2007 17:40:23 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1868 I'd add that you should let other people know your wishes. I mean, I want as cheap a funeral as possible and I've written a short set of instructions to that effect. I’d add that you should let other people know your wishes. I mean, I want as cheap a funeral as possible and I’ve written a short set of instructions to that effect.

]]> By: 10 Tips On Life and Disability Insurance: How And Why We’re Getting More » Silicon Valley Blog About Money http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1864 10 Tips On Life and Disability Insurance: How And Why We’re Getting More » Silicon Valley Blog About Money Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:23:51 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1864 [...] you need cash or liquidity to cover your family when you depart, regardless of your age. There are costs associated with someone’s passing and it would be helpful to a family if they have the cash to cover such obligations. Estate tax may [...] [...] you need cash or liquidity to cover your family when you depart, regardless of your age. There are costs associated with someone’s passing and it would be helpful to a family if they have the cash to cover such obligations. Estate tax may [...]

]]> By: The Sunday Review #13 at Money, Matter, and More Musings http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1839 The Sunday Review #13 at Money, Matter, and More Musings Sun, 25 Mar 2007 11:34:03 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1839 [...] How to Put Your Deceased Loved One in the Ground for Under $1,000 by Jeremy @ Generation X Finance. A frugal thing to do when you are dead - make your death easy and economical for your near and dear ones. the excerpt below voices Jeremy’s sentiments. Sometimes we get caught up in saving pennies on our electric bill, worry about correct tire inflation for gas mileage and even make a big issue about a fraction of a percent expense ratio on a mutual fund, yet we are completely unprepared when it comes to one thing that is absolutely certain in life. [...] [...] How to Put Your Deceased Loved One in the Ground for Under $1,000 by Jeremy @ Generation X Finance. A frugal thing to do when you are dead – make your death easy and economical for your near and dear ones. the excerpt below voices Jeremy’s sentiments. Sometimes we get caught up in saving pennies on our electric bill, worry about correct tire inflation for gas mileage and even make a big issue about a fraction of a percent expense ratio on a mutual fund, yet we are completely unprepared when it comes to one thing that is absolutely certain in life. [...]

]]> By: tanyetta http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1833 tanyetta Sat, 24 Mar 2007 23:57:43 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1833 i have insurance and i've stated that i want to be cremated and for my family and friends to have a party. NO funeral, etc..Now that I think about it, maybe even being cremated costs money. Geez, and I thought I was saving money. Thanks for this post :) i have insurance and i’ve stated that i want to be cremated and for my family and friends to have a party. NO funeral, etc..Now that I think about it, maybe even being cremated costs money. Geez, and I thought I was saving money. Thanks for this post :)

]]> By: » Weekly Linkfest on Blueprint for Financial Prosperity http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1829 » Weekly Linkfest on Blueprint for Financial Prosperity Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:31:32 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1829 [...] you can get past the crassness, I think Jeremy’s article on burying for under $1000 is worth reading. Not knowing anything about this sort of thing, thankfully, it’s good to [...] [...] you can get past the crassness, I think Jeremy’s article on burying for under $1000 is worth reading. Not knowing anything about this sort of thing, thankfully, it’s good to [...]

]]> By: Money Articles for the Week of March 24, 2007 » Silicon Valley Blog About Money http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1827 Money Articles for the Week of March 24, 2007 » Silicon Valley Blog About Money Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:47:31 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2007/03/22/how-to-put-your-deceased-loved-one-in-the-ground-for-under-1000/#comment-1827 [...] X Finance has How to Put Your Deceased Loved One in the Ground for Under $1,000. Very good advice to take now while you still have time. It’s one of those things you [...] [...] X Finance has How to Put Your Deceased Loved One in the Ground for Under $1,000. Very good advice to take now while you still have time. It’s one of those things you [...]

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