In our culture, people tend to avoid conversations around – or even thinking about – death, but planning for the days after we say goodbye can provide significant peace of mind, and save our loved ones stress and expense at a vulnerable time. By using a funeral plan, you can pre-pay and pre-arrange your funeral, choosing how you would like the day to go according to your budget, preferences and conversations you’ve had with your family.
Why do people plan for their funeral while alive and healthy?
The fact that we will one day have to leave the world is one of the only guarantees in life, and with so many people feeling uncertainty and fear around the subject of death, planning a funeral while they are alive and healthy can feel like an empowering act.
Attending to the details of their funeral ahead of time is also a way to ensure their wishes are adhered to, which can provide a huge amount of reassurance to those who have a clear idea of how they would like the funeral to proceed. It may be extremely important to them, for example, that their funeral feels like a celebration of their life, or that something important to them – like nature and conservation – is central to the arrangements.
What are the key benefits of pre-planning my funeral?
There are many benefits of pre-planning a funeral, some of which include:
- Taking financial pressure off your loved ones: Funerals involve many different expenses, and people can worry that this will be a burden to their loved ones when they are gone. Funeral plans allow you to pre-pay for a funeral and rest easy knowing everything is sorted.
- Giving you and your family time: When we lose a loved one, decisions have to be made quickly regarding their funeral, and there are a lot of things to think about. While funeral directors are more than experienced at guiding people through this process, pre-planning gives you time to really consider your options, and have conversations about what would work best.
- Picking your preferred funeral provider: Funeral plans allow you to choose your funeral provider, giving you the confidence that your wishes will be seen to and your family well looked after.
- Gaining support and reassurance: With a pre-paid funeral plan, your funeral provider will be happy to help you comb through all the details, so you feel supported every step of the way.
Tips for planning your funeral
There are a few things to consider when planning your own funeral. As experienced funeral directors, here is our advice.
Write down your priorities: A useful first step in funeral planning is identifying the details that are really important to you. You may, for example, be of deep religious faith and very interested in the funeral ceremony itself, or you may be passionate about flowers and want to allocate a significant portion of your budget to funeral floristry. This is deeply personal, so it’s something we would recommend reflecting on.
Have a conversation with your family: When planning your own funeral, it’s ultimately your wishes that are most significant. But in many ways, funerals are not only about us but the people we leave behind. It is always worthwhile to discuss your plans with your loved ones – not only to ensure your wishes are carried out, but to understand what would be of comfort to them on the day.
Research which funeral plan providers will work for you: There are many options available when choosing a funeral plan, and with research, you will be able to pick a provider which most suits your needs. This is also true of the funeral directors you choose to oversee your wishes and take care of your family.
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Planning your own funeral is a reassuring way to know that your wishes will be carried out, and your loved ones will not face unexpected costs or responsibilities. At Harold Wood Funeral Services, we partner with a leading provider, Golden Charter Funeral Plans, helping you plan your send-off and take care of emotional, practical and financial matters in advance. If you would like to find out more, please get in touch.