The death of a close relative is often a hard time for the family. However, certain circumstances make these situations even more challenging. An example is footing the bills for the funeral when the deceased does not leave any money.
Some people haven’t faced any deaths in their families. Those people are often unsure how much it costs to hold a funeral. So, how much are funeral costs in Connecticut, and what are the cheapest ways around them?
So, if you’re ready for a deep-dive into how much it costs to say goodbye to a loved one and what you can do to reduce the costs, let’s dig in.
How Much Does A Funeral Cost In Connecticut?
Some things pop up in the minds of those who have to bury a loved one. Some of these are how much the funeral will cost, and will we be able to pay it? A broad estimate will put you anywhere in the range of $7,000 to $12,000. It usually depends on whether or not you choose to have them buried or cremated.
This price sounds like a mind-boggling sum to most people, and it truly is so for most people in Connecticut. With how the economy has been for the past few years, most people do not have a lot of money to pay for a loved one’s funeral.
Details Surrounding Funeral Costs In Connecticut.
Connecticut funeral homes control the costs of burials and cremations all over the state. This fact means that they are subject to many changes and often inflation without the general public knowing.
The costs of a funeral in Connecticut are also directly dependent on whether the family chooses to have a burial or a cremation.
So, which one is the cheaper option that also allows your loved one to have respectful last rites? We’ve got all the details for you.
Burial vs. Cremation — Which One Is Cheaper?
Right off the bat — cremation is the cheaper option. It is also more environmentally-friendly. So, if you don’t want to overspend while also being ethical, this one is the option that you should go for.
However, you need to remember that there is no shame in admitting that you can’t afford to hold a lavish funeral for your deceased relative. You can save money by choosing to have a simple ceremony. It is in no way an indicator of your love and regard for that person.
All you can do with limited means is make sure that the deceased is respectfully said goodbye. You should perform these rites without putting an undue burden on yourself.
Burial vs. Cremation — Price Comparisons
So, what makes cremation a cheaper option? Why are more and more people choosing to have their relatives cremated? The answer lies in the prices of cremations compared to the costs of burials.
A simple cremation can cost you anywhere between $1500 to $2200. A traditional burial could cost you anywhere between $9000 to $15,000.
These differences in pricing are impossibly huge. They undoubtedly play a huge role in the rising rate of cremations in the US.
The Cheapest Ways Around High Funeral Costs
With a bit of research, one finds that there are many ways around exorbitant funeral costs. However, most people do not take the time to do the research. This error leads them to get ripped off in the name of respectful funerals.
But what can you do in this situation? Let’s get into it.
1. Choose cremation.
The most straightforward answer to this problem is— choose to have your relatives cremated. This choice will allow you to save up on most of the costs associated with a traditional burial. These costs may come with buying a casket, buying a gravesite, and finding a funeral hearse.
These additional services are a massive component of high funeral prices. A gravesite alone can cost anywhere between $700 to $5000. The price usually depends on whether your gravesite is in a private cemetery or a public one.
Combine this with the regular costs of a funeral. These include the funeral home’s basic fees, flowers for the deceased, refrigeration costs, transportation, etc., and you have a bill that exceeds $9000.
2. Have a private service.
Funeral homes usually handle funerals and all interment services. However, you do not necessarily have to use their memorial service option as well. Memorial services are costly and are often made more expensive by funeral homes.
By arranging a memorial service at home, a community center, or any other rented space, you could save up quite a bit of money on the funeral costs. However, you won’t see many people opting for this option. This fact is because of the element of shame associated with saving up on cheaper funerals.
Other people just do not have their minds working sharply when someone close to them has died.
3. Ditch the embalming.
Embalming can cost anywhere between $600 to $800 in most states, including Connecticut. However, it is an optional service, and you can choose not to get it. This deduction will allow you to save up a considerable chunk from the funeral costs.
Another thing to remember when talking about embalming is that most funeral homes will not automatically exclude it from your service options, nor will they tell you that it is an optional procedure. This deception leads most people to get the deceased’s body embalmed without any necessary reason.
4. Skip the viewing.
Suppose you are genuinely very short on finances. You can take steps to reduce costs even further by skipping the memorial’s viewing. If you didn’t know you could do that, it’s because most funeral homes do not advertise the fact. All you need to do is inform the funeral home of your wishes.
By skipping the viewing, you save up on the costs of embalming, makeup, styling, a nice casket, and flowers.
5. Opt for a crematorium instead of a funeral home.
Suppose you decide to have your loved one cremated. Another way to reduce the cost is by calling up a crematorium and asking them for a spot instead of doing the cremation in a funeral home. A crematorium will charge anywhere between $500 to $900, while a funeral home will arrange a simple cremation range of $2000 to $3000.
This difference is because funeral homes are much more expensive and employ services that increase the cremation costs.
6. Get funeral insurance.
If you wish to prepare for whenever you say goodbye to this world, you can choose to get yourself a funeral insurance plan. This planning will give your relatives a lump of $5000-$10,000 after your death. You can also get the insurance company to directly pay your funeral costs to a crematorium or funeral home of your choice.
Many companies such as Forester’s Financial, American Amicable, Gerber’s Life Insurance, Oxford Life, TransAmerica, and Mutual of Omaha offer affordable life insurance and funeral insurance plans for people of every age and social status.
Well, this is how you can make your loss more bearable by cutting back on funeral costs.
Ways To Pay For The Funeral If You Have No Money At All
The little tips mentioned above apply to the people who only have a small amount of money to spend on the funeral. But what about those people who have no money at all to bury their loved ones? Alternatively, what if the loved one dies without leaving any money to take care of their last rites?
We’ll break down your options for you below if you have no money at your disposal at all. We’ll also let you know which option you should opt for in your case.
1. Check if the deceased has funeral insurance.
Many companies such as Mutual of Omaha, TransAmerica, Oxford Life, Forester’s, Gerber’s, and American Amicable offer final plan insurance options. These plans are for people who cannot afford life insurance, are not eligible for it, or simply do not have it.
If the deceased has any form of funeral insurance, you will be able to get all of the costs associated with funerals paid in no time.
2. Apply to the DSS.
The Department of Social Security pays for the funerals of Connecticut residents who died without having any money in their bank accounts or possessions.
However, one thing to remember is that the DSS will only cover costs under $2200. This restriction is why it is best to opt for cremation in this case.
3. Crowdfund.
The last resort for most people in these cases is asking other people to chip in to help with a particular person’s funeral costs. You can do this by setting up a GoFundMe in your relative’s name. Share it on your social media profiles as well so that people can choose to contribute.
So, these are all the ways by which you can not only reduce funeral costs in Connecticut but eliminate them.
Conclusion
If a Connecticut resident dies with a poor financial status, the burden of paying for the funeral costs lies on the relatives’ shoulders. Funeral costs have been rising steadily over the past two decades. These added costs make it vital to research funeral costs in Connecticut and the cheapest ways around them.