Funeral Plans

Mum arranged her pre paid funeral through the undertakers. We had an appointment with a lovely lady who took all the details. Mum paid in full and that was it. 3 yrs later when mum died we contacted them and everything except the flowers and of course the wake was taken care of.
I think the monthly payment type is a minefield but with mum paying in full at the time we didn't have a problem. In those 3 yrs the price would have risen a few hundred.
It was the last one the OP mentioned.

It was straight to the crem for my husband`s funeral. There wasn`t a lot of money in his account to pay for it, so we sorted out, with the undertaker, the most advantageous thing for us, and it was a very nice funeral, as funerals go, and didn`t cost anywhere near what they say in these ads. My children are instructed to go the same way when it`s my turn.

I wish people could be more open and honest about this. Its an absolute nightmare.

If it were just up to me I would have a direct cremation, cheap simple disposing of a body. If those left would like more then they can pay for it out of their inheritance.

Check that your local funeral directors will accept use of them, I read somewhere that some have had so much hassle over what they do/don't cover etc that they won't do burials using these plans.
I agree that setting money aside a better option, it's what we have done - even though I am not having any service or fuss. Straight to the cremation process for me.

excellent idea especially when your estate will not have funds to pay for a funeral

Not zany. Where did that come from!

Well, there we are, I was interested and having nothing better to do (like cleaning the bathroom) I did a bit of research.

It’s an insurance policy of sorts. Depending on how old you are the cost per month varies. Obviously if you’re more likely to die in say the next five years the cost will go up per month. £40to £50 per month doesn’t seem unusual for zany 80 year old, if you chose the optimum service.

All the plans only cover some of the cost though, even the Premium ones. Not burial plot, flowers, embalming, any after the funeral gathering. Only the basics really.

You seem to have to go with their approved providers too. Which may not be the ones your family would want.

On the whole, if I was worried about a financial burden to my family, I’d rather put some money in a savings account,I think.

I've written out my funeral wishes, and my children can pay for it out of my estate, just as I did when my parents died. Don't get talked into anything you aren't 100% happy with.

Ditto what GrannyGravy13 says. Just ensure your nearest and dearest have a clear idea of what you want....it my case they know its the bare legal minimum...and then have a separate account. My general feeling about these so called plans is that they are using huge amounts of emotional blackmail to make sure you invest. The slicker the salesperson the shoddier the product I suspect!

Personally I would put money aside in a separate account. I would then write a letter of my wishes for when the time comes, make several copies and give one to my children or next of kin.

I expect there are some excellent companies out there offering their services, but I would worry that I had picked the wrong one.