Apologies in advance for morbid topic

its not at all morbid, it is part of `dying tidy` ie making provision to take the load away from loved ones. It is a caring thing to do

MY (late) MIL had one, it saved a lot of messing about when she died.

I've signed up to leave my body to medical science, and so has my husband, so hopefully, when we die, our bodies will be taken by the relevant department, and there will be nothing for our sons to arrange - and no expenditure.

Not morbid at all. Practical.

I don't have one because I'm not having a funeral but I think you have to look at the detail carefully because most of them only cover part of the host and many things are not covered.

I don't know what happens if the company goes out of business. I guess there might be an additional insurance payment to cover that possibility?
Buyer beware I think.

cost not host. Fat finger.

We arranged a Golden Charter One last year to save our family the worry and stress of arranging everything. It also means that as it's prepaid, our family don't have to worry about the cost.
I have even picked the undertaker and my hymns, as I can't trust my husband, who prefers very morbid traditional ones. I'm a much cheerier hymn singer.

I had an awful experience when both my parents died (nothing but penny policies and the family lair unexpectedly full), that I do not want my children to suffer the same stress.

I meant to say, it's backed up by an insurance policy.

Pinkcakes
Same here. My daughter loved the idea ?

I'm so grateful to you for bringing this up as it left my mind completely.

I think that it's a really loving thing to do for family to take away the stress and expense, not that it's not loving not to, it's just not something many think about and knowing me it will leave my mind for a bit again... I will set myself a reminder.

Friend of mines mother had hers booked and paid for....
However my friend was not happy and convinced her mother had paid for a lot more than was provided, when sadly she died .
I would say share copy of what is covered with family or whoever and have no surprises.

I've been thinking about this as we've just sorted wills and POAs. My husband is against the idea as he feels that you are gambling on the company staying in business.

My point of view is that if we end up going into care the government will take all our savings, so instead of being able to leave the children a modest inheritance we could leave them with debt.

We've only had a very cursory discussion, but it's something I want to discuss further at some point soon.

Pinkcakes when the lab is finished with you you'll be retuurned to your family to dispose of by cremation or burial.Theres no time limit on how long they can keep you though so your family will need to have money set aside for a basic funeral.Thats what we were told by the lawyer who wrote our will for us.He also said they sometimes get too many bodies and refuse some .Nothing is simple.It may be different where you are but I'd check if I were you

I think the funeral business will be the last to fail.
Doodledog

Thanks for the reminder. I'm sure our DC would be pleased . My MiL has had her funeral plan lodged with all her DC for at least 30 years. She'll outlive us all.
It has the hymns and where she wants to be buried. It also has what she wants in the sandwiches at the wake. She's been to too many mean funerals in her time.

My siblings and I actually enjoyed the special time between our DMum's death and her funeral. Together we chose the music, the flowers, wrote a notice for the paper, let everyone know and looked through the old albums. She was in her 90s so it was sad but not depressing..

I have a prepaid plan as does my partner. Mine is with a local funeral director in the big city where I live & my partner's is with s well known national company because he lives elsewhere in the UK & might need to be transported "home" from staying with me. (We don't live full time together you see.)
I visited 4, yes four, different funeral directors & asked every question I could think of about their processes & practices including how my money is looked after etc. I went into every detail I could & was met with kindness & understanding from all. I even phoned the local crematorium to ask about the actual cost of a cremation just to make sure the funeral directors weren't loading their price, & emailed the appropriate person responsible for the area where I'd like my ashes interred. There will be an additional cost implication to that you see. Overall I was highly satisfied with everything I learned and went with the company I felt most at ease with. I suggest anyone planning on paying up front will benefit from doing likewise. You won't regret it.

Grannynannywanny, first, decide if you want a funeral or just an unattended cremation.

I have a prepaid cremation plan and my family can just scatter my ashes - or have a little memorial service if they really want to. It's nice to have it all arranged.

Thank you all very much for your helpful and informative replies. I feel even more inclined now to arrange one.

i do not have a pre-paid funeral but have spoke to my son about what i want, i will have a no fuss cremation, so no funeral or service, he is happy for me to do that as he saw the problems i had at his dads funeral, my sil took over and nothing that my husband wanted was done, i felt for years that i had let him down and i do not want my son going through the same thing

My mother passed away a few weeks ago. She had donated her body to medical science so had no plans for a funeral. However, in the event the university was unable to take her body due to COVID. As we would only been allowed 10 people at a funeral (her 5 children and partners made most of that number) and because she was determined that she did not want a funeral we decided on an unattended cremation which was not particularly expensive and in time when things are somewhat more normal we will arrange the spreading of her ashes.

Here, (Victoria Australia) the donated bodies are returned to the family after cremation by the university, however, not all of the body is necessarily cremated or returned at the same time.

DH and I have funeral plans with the Co-op. He still works for them part so with the staff discount, we have a good deal.
DH has a family plot waiting for him at the cemetery, I wish to be cremated.

I am 67 years old and bought a funeral plan many years ago as I didn't want the costs of my funeral to fall on the shoulders of my sister and her family. Whatever money I do leave is there for them to enjoy themselves with. My funeral is not their responsibility, it's mine.

The best plan is, don't have a funeral. I've left firm instructions about this.

My mum had one of thee plans . It was such Agra’s help I must say . She’s even chosen the music she wanted playing I’d strongly recommend them .

My mum had one of these plans .It was such a great help I must say. She’d even chosen the music she wanted - she loved classical music - I would strongly recommend them from the beneficiary point of view. Sorry for not editing previous post !

"Pinkcakes" Be aware if either of you have to undergo an Autopsy you will not be accepted by the University and you will have to convert to normal burial procedures,this happened with my lovely husband at the beginning of this year so always make sure you have the Undertakers costs put to one side.

Years ago, Mum and her 3 friends attended the funeral of a friend who had a Co-op Funeral Plan in place. They were so impressed, not only by the Funeral but also by the price, which was held at the cost she had paid when she bought the Plan , that they organised a trip. First call, the Co-Op Funeral place, where they all bought their Plans, then over the road to the Co-op shop for a spot of shopping and lunch
On the back of this I, too, bought a Co-op Funeral Plan in 2000 when I had a C. dx., where it stays in my desk drawers ready.... my son, who lives in the US, knows this and knows where the Plan is.
Sorted!
Frees me and my money up to spend,spend,spend!
Now that's what I call a win/win situation