The cost of cremation is one of the reasons that the cremation process has become more widely used in recent years. For example, in Minnesota, cremation has more than doubled in the last 20 years, growing from 18.6% in 1992 to over 46% in 2009.
Some of the reasons that it is less expensive are simple to explain. Many of the people that have the body cremated are looking for a simpler form of burial service. If you work directly with the crematorium, it is more likely to be less expensive than if you are working with a funeral home.
If you do not have the body buried, you will not have to pay for the cost of a much more expensive casket, burial service, and the land used in the cemetery for burial. You will most likely still need to have a container for the cremation itself, but depending on state laws, it can be as simple as a corrugated box, costing as little as $95. Caskets used for burial can range up to $35,000.
Even if you do opt to have the ashes buried, a plot at the columbarium, an area used for burial of remains from cremation, will be much smaller and less expensive.
Many people decide to keep the ashes in an urn after cremation or to scatter the ashes in a special place. A temporary urn, consisting of a plastic box with a clasp, or something similar, is usually provided to the family after cremation from the crematorium. If you want something more permanent to store the ashes in for the family, an urn can cost as little as $65 or as much as $1500 if you want to spend that much.
Another cost associated with the traditional burial that can be avoided is the cost of embalming the body, which can usually run from $700 to $1000. Even if the body is to be viewed before cremation, embalming can be replaced by refrigeration storage.
Many state laws governing the cremation process have been enacted to protect the consumer. It is helpful to familiarize yourself with the laws in your state and to write down your wishes ahead of time for your family. Much of the cost associated with the funeral process itself can be avoided if decisions are not being made at a time of great stress and have already been made by the family members ahead of time.
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