funeral plans

I have just set up with a well know company, recommended by a local funeral director. I will say that they did contact me quite a few times before I set up the plan, couched under the ' have you any questions' calls to me. But they did explain the different plans and also took the time to answer my questions. Of course I will not be here to know, when the time comes, if they stick to my wishes, but that is the case with any plan, pre- paid or otherwise. If you want to know the company I can send a pm.

If there isn't anyone who would end up having to sort out the funeral, I would be inclined not to worry.
I have worked with adults who have learning disabilities, who all had funeral plans in place though, and their 'send offs' were all very dignified, nothing scrimped or shoddy about them, so good luck deciding what to do.

We lost Dad 12 months ago and his Will stipulated a very plain cremation with no fuss. This set off at about £2.8k and ended up at £3.5 after the crem and the minister etc etc. I came home and set up a plan that I am paying interest free over 12 months. It's costing me £3.5k but I know that it will be in place when I do go and the children won't have to sort it all out.
I've even chosen the readings and music!
I'm 59 and hoping it will be sone time before I pop off (Dad was 90!) x

We both want a 'green burial' and have left written details in a fireproof box with our wills and important documents.

My husband and I have considered these plans and there are mixed reviews and it leaves you not really knowing what to do for the best.
My husbands mother and aunt both had funeral plans which they both bought many years before so it worked out well for their estates and everything was in writing what they wanted and we just went along with that.
That was the thing we thought was good because family don't have to sort the basics out you have done it for them. We are stuck on the company to use, which one do you choose that is the question.

Mum had a prepaid plan. She paid it in full when making the arrangements with the funeral directors. She chose a wicker coffin and other details herself. This was done 2-3 yrs before she died. It was a plan from a well known company, not an arrangement with the funeral directors.
All we had to do when the time came was inform the undertakers, order flowers and a venue for the wake.
I think the plans you pay into monthly can be a rip off and it would appear that saving each month in a lot of cases (not all) is a better option.

Yes both of my parents are 84 and have pre paid with the funeral directors.

Thank you for all your replies , they have been most helpful and have helped me to sort things out in my head.
The cost of the burial plot and funeral have rocketed since I buried my Husband in 2012 , so I have decided to take out a pre paid funeral plan , I have already planned my funeral down to the last detail , then I shall forget about it and enjoy life !

I have just been reading the small print on the pre paid funeral plan booklet and find there is a £250 set up fee , why the heck does it cost so much to set up a plan ? just lining this firms pocket I suspect , what do you think ?

Administration fees, I suppose? Someone will have to record your wishes and keep them on file somewhere.

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Although you are supposedly helping the original poster this is an advert for your service and not allowed under GN rules

I have paid for mine in advance mainly because I did not want my PoA forking out a few thousands. Also, the cost will not rise so that was another reason.

I have no family so it appeared to be a good idea at the time and it has been in place for a year now.

My mum who died this year had a plan under Age UK using a local funeral director. He was lovely and told me by buying when she did mum got a £3000 funeral for around £2000. Just wish she'd known this she always loved a bargain. The vicar did tell me about a couple who took out plans in their 70s but both died in their late 90s. They'd paid for all the extras so their funerals would have cost over £8000, they had paid about £1500!

MIL has already paid for her funeral in full, through a local funeral director. She has chosen her songs not hymns. Wrote her own eulogy.
And now she is trying to choose where to have her wake. Money is set aside for this as well.

I have recently arranged and paid for both our funerals, partly to save our DDs any hassle when the time comes but also for an additional reason. As DH's dementia advances at an alarming rate, it has become clear that at some point he will require residential care and our modest savings will be taken to pay for the Care Home until they have whittled down to the statutory limit when the LA will fund (or partially fund) the fees. We cannot directly make cash gifts to the DDs or DGC as this would be seen as deliberately reducing our assets and the recipients could be required to pay the money back. However advance payments for funerals are allowable under the rules.

Another thing to consider is that Funeral Directors generally want full payment for a funeral BEFORE it takes place. This creates difficulties for the bereaved if the deceased has died intestate or with a complicated estate which make take months or years to settle. There have been instances quoted in the press where families have had to wait months while they tried to seek loans or gather the £1000s needed before the funeral could proceed. A prepaid funeral ensures that the money to pay for the funeral is available immediately.

I hope you have sorted this out by now. But to answer your question, I did acquire a pre-paid funeral plan from this prepaid funeral plans agency my friend suggested and still investing in it right now. Speaking from experience, I think you just need to make sure that you’re trusting the right people in order to ensure that your money is not going to waste. After all, this should be secured insurance for you and not something you want to stress about. In terms of your real estate plan, I’m not sure this would help you in your funeral when the time comes unless there’s someone out there who’s willing to organise it (which in your case there is none). Hence, I strongly suggest you go for it.