How much will my funeral cost?

How much does it cost to die in the UK? Unless you have been in the unfortunate position where you have had to arrange a funeral, the figures may surprise you.

The average UK funeral in 2015 was £3,702, however there is a difference of £4,000 between Western Scotland and Kent.

This is an increase of 3.9% from 2014 – inflation was only 1% for the same period.

Since 1980, the increase in funeral costs has been 6.1%, more than petrol!

So how can you ensure that your funeral doesn’t break the bank?

Firstly, burial is more costly than cremation. But if you do want to be interred rather than scattered, caskets are actually getting cheaper, particularly as materials for their construction is evolving. Look up Compare the Coffin to see what your environmentally low impact bamboo coffin costs versus traditional oak. For a real saving, ethically and cost wise, cardboard is available from £250.

Another area to save costs are traditional cars and flowers. A hearse is not obligatory and neither is a funeral director – you can transport the body to its final resting place yourself. Flowers are often replaced with charitable donations at many modern funerals.

Alternatively, instead of asking your relatives to penny pinch when you die, you can plan ahead and have the exact funeral you want by pre-purchasing a funeral plan. But the most important thing to do is share your wishes with your loved ones before the time comes.