Advance Funeral Plans ?

Well, this morning I have bought a funeral plan - it's cheap (less than £3000). The lady talked a lot of common sense. Can't tell you yet if it's any good since we are both alive and kicking with no intentions of needing it soon. I went to the Funeral Plan Market - if anyone has good, bad or indifferent to say about them I'd be delighted to hear about it!!

Deedaa I do think funerals are for the living so more important for you to feel comfortable with it. Other people might feel differently but I think funerals can be very helpful for the living and I hope it helped you.

I have to confess I did play my children up about my funeral, I told them I wanted one like an East End Gangster. You know the sort of thing, glass carriage pulled by 4 black horses and all the trimmings. In the end I had to confess I wasn't being serious as they were taking it very seriously.

I want a Catholic mass and cremation. Don't care about the rest, if they want flowers and cars that is up to them.

DH took out funeral plans for both of us about a year before he died. I didn't take much notice at the time but when DD and I went to organise the funeral we found out what very basic ones he had paid for!

I ended up paying as much again for what I wanted. He would have gone mad! Lovely flowers on the coffin (Flowers! What a waste of money!) Two limousines (Cars! Everybody's got their own, why are you paying for cars?) The grandsons loved the cars, they'd never been in anything so luxurious. I paid for a pleasant lady to conduct the proceedings and a nicely printed order of service. He would have considered it all a waste of money all though I suspect he might have enjoyed some of it.

I have details here from Simplicity Cremations Prepaid Funeral Plans that I am considering. I gives options of no people attending to people attending and service.
I find funerals so upsetting, and am thinking of the no people attending option. I have spoken to my 3 boys about this and they are all okay with my preference. We are a very large family and I would rather family and friends have a good get-together at a later date.

I am going to go with the cremation only option. I am really sick of the prices funeral directors charge, since loosing my husband and mother. It is ridiculous, and it's about time the government looked into it. I just think these companies make money from other peoples miseries and it is dead wrong!

That's good news, trisher, thanks again.

Maggiemaybe

Thanks for the MSE link, trisher, I’ll be looking at that as this is something we’re considering. Though being a canny adopted Yorkshirewoman, I do worry about the provider going bust before we do, and how, if we had another strict lockdown with very quick and simple funerals, we might have wasted money that the family could have had. Though I do appreciate that we won’t be here to be bothered about it.

I think if you do an Age UK one you would just be changed to another funeral director. My mum moved nearer me after she had taken hers out, when she died we were just given the name of the nearest one. (who was brilliant).

I've left clear instructions that I don't want a funeral.

Thanks for the MSE link, trisher, I’ll be looking at that as this is something we’re considering. Though being a canny adopted Yorkshirewoman, I do worry about the provider going bust before we do, and how, if we had another strict lockdown with very quick and simple funerals, we might have wasted money that the family could have had. Though I do appreciate that we won’t be here to be bothered about it.

I haven't bought a funeral plan (yet), but I have bought a grave in a beautiful local churchyard.

What I want, A lot won't provide - I want cover for whoever 'goes' first. Most I have contacted want it named. DH is 80 and not interested, I have very limited funds so hope to cover for the one that goes first, there will plenty of cash left for the remainer!! "Reassured" are OK with that but they only deal with the Co-op. Age Uk are only interested if a name is on the plan. Will continue looking!

My parents both have Pure Cremation plans. There will be no funeral or wake. Once they are both no longer here, we as a family, will arrange a get together to dispose their ashes as to their wishes.

It was the Social Worker who suggested that we should purchase a funeral plan for my miserly reclusive, stubborn Uncle. He was about to go from hospital into a Care Home, where his savings would be just over the limit for him to receive full funding via the LA. So my Sister and I did just that via the Co-op. Surprisingly he flourished in the Care Home, the staff all doted on him and appreciated his extremely wry sense of humour. He was there for nearly 5 years until his death, His funeral plan covered his simple funeral and as he had never spent a single penny of the personal allowance from his state pension (why buy a newspaper when I can read someone else's? or buy clothes or PJ's when my nieces gave me them as presents? or pay for an outing when I know they will take me anyway?) there was around £5000 lodged with the home, which we inherited - plus we got the Co-op dividend on the funeral plan.

When it was clear that DH was needing to go into a care home, I arranged funeral plans for both of us via an Independent Funeral Director. When DH died last year it was so easy to arrange the funeral and fulfil his wishes.

I cannot bear the thought of money being wasted on my funeral. I don’t know which country I will be in when I die but my instructions are clear. Cremation with nobody in attendance, ashes to be returned if wished and scattered in any public beautiful garden. Party optional.

Thank you - that's a lot of reading to do. gt66 and greenlady102 I don't want to pay straight to the funeral director in case they go belly up!!
I had forgotten about AgeUK, will try to contact them to see what they have to offer. I'm not looking for anything elaborate, but don't want to pay elaborate prices for simple!!

My husband wants to go to the local tip when they empty the bins. I've told him they won't agree and he thinks it is very unreasonable. I think I've persuaded him that direct cremation is the next best thing.

Simple Send-Offs do a good deal near to where I live, just £2,045 . Everything is organised and times are from 10am to 2pm. That's the Cremation Plus price. A 40 minute service with a choice of music.

Straightforward cremations are cheaper. Just under £1,600.
They've had a good write-up. I think it's enough to pay.

If the family want to go for a meal somewhere after there'll be enough in the kitty. They can please themselves as set buffets aren't always convenient for everyone.

I'd rather treat the GGC too, they won't do so badly.

D can also get a rose bush in my namesake and use the ashes up that way

Pure cremation for me..
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I think it’s wise to remove any burden from your daughters Gwenisgreat. As my own mum was terrible with money I worried myself for years thinking there would be nothing in the pot for her funeral when her time came. She wouldn’t talk about such matters preferring to bury her head in the sand. As she had been unwell for a few years and dad took over finances in a more sensible way I asked him when she passed if he had enough money to bury her - he did and having paid that there is enough for his when the time comes.
Just a small note on how Co op funeral services vary. When my FIL in Wales died 2 years ago MIL received the bill about a week later with a visit from the lovely female undertaker who had dealt with it. I was a little disturbed when at mum’s funeral earlier this year dad was handed the bill at the crematorium after the service. I hasten to add he had already paid a large chunk of the fees but this was for the remainder. I thought it was rather insensitive to do this on the day.

Thank you, Trisher. Didn't know all of that detail.

I think it's something you need to discuss with your family. The basic cremations are early morning and no one can attend so they need to know that and be happy with it, otherwise they might pay extra after you've gone so they can be there.

I've told my sons of the very cheapie and basic cremation I'd like. I've even organised immediately accessible cash for them to deal with it. If they spend more then more fools they. Can't stand the rip off of funerals and the false pomp I've observed at them.

Martin Lewis has a great assessment of plans and what you get for your money www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/prepaid-funeral-plans/

Years Before mum died, she was reading a novel and One part made her laugh out loud. She read it out to me ...

Wife to husband: “when one of us dies I’m going to live in France”.

?

....oh btw Gwen, no need to go through a middle man. Just go on the Co Op website and arrange it yourself.

Their 'Silver plan' is £3995.

My parents bought two basic pre paid funeral plans a few years ago. Cost: just over £3K each. Sadly one parent has passed away and it was so helpful to have that in place beforehand.

I thought it was a good idea to buy for myself and DH, so our children don't have to find the money when we pass, but I heard that the cost of funerals was being looked into, plus I've since heard about Direct Funerals; the undertakers take the body directly to the crematorium, there is no service and you cannot visit your loved one in the funeral home. Cost from the Co Op is £1300. It may not suit everyone, but I'd be happy with that!