to be really surprised that nobodyI know who is my age (mid 30's) has made provisions for their own funeral?

[LaitAuChocolat]

Bloody hell, I seem to be surrounded by people that think they are going to die when they are 103 in bed surrounded by their loved ones!

[VivaLeBeaver]

www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Bereaved/DG_10018660

[TheMagnificentBathykolpian]

Yes, they are. If I was hit by a bus tomorrow, my children would have no money worries at all.

[ElectricSoftParade]

atswim I don't know but I will look into that. Thank you.

[LaitAuChocolat]

Its such a horrible chore to put your family or friends through if you havent sorted out the finances. They will (hopefully) know the kind of send off you would like so thats by the by, its making sure that they dont have to fund it if maybe they cant.

[emmanumber3]

If you have either life insurance or savings then why the need to specifically set money aside for a funeral too? So long as there will be funds available I, like other posters, think a funeral should be something your loved ones organise for you rather than self-organised in advance. I know not everyone feels that way and I totally respect that point of view & of course, not everyone has someone to "do the honours" for them - in which case a pre-arrangement with a funeral director is probably sensible. However, for me personally, as long as there is money there from some source, I will be more than happy to leave the details to my loved ones!

.

[BinEnd]

I'm worth far more dead than alive so no worries there

I think most people are concentrating on getting through the next few years of the recession or planning for their old age rather than concentrating on planning for their death.

[LaitAuChocolat]

emmanumber3 I'd just prefer that the few quid that I would get from insurance or have in savings would go to my children.

[EggyAllenPoe]

childrens funerals are often done for free - DS was. (if anyone wants a recommend for a good director in the Worthing area: HD Tribe)

many employers have some kind of death benefit (with Tesco's it was 10k IIRC). DH's was enough to cover the mortgage....

i'm not sure what mine would do. but there is usually enough to cover an emegency expense in the bank. although, one thing i will say about bereavement - was alot less careful with cash and found it hard to give much of a toss about expense for a bit.

[vintageteacups]

I want to be buried but want to have a funeral service in a church but not a religious one. I'm not sure you can do that and if not, it'll be a humanist one (although I haven't written this down so nobody knows).

I thought I might record a CD of my three funeral songs I want (sang by me - I'm a trained classical singer) to be played during the service .

I don't like the idea of being put into the soil where the worms can see me and I might not actually be dead but I'm sure when it comes to it, it won't really matter.

[MixedClassBaby]

The people who aren't planning their own funerals - have you ever planned someone else's?

Yes, my father's. He died suddenly and planning the funeral gave immediate family a sense of purpose in the week after his death. We planned it as we thought he would have liked it based on our memories of him and different aspects had specific meaning to each of us. It was comforting and so I think that the process can be helpful to the people left behind.

I don't care what happens when I go as long as White man in Hammersmith Palais by The Clash is played at some point. Even if it's not, it doesn't really matter as I won't know about it cos I'll be dead.

[HackedOffAndHaressed]

I haven't made any plans for my funeral, though I have life insurance, critical illness insurance and a will.

I don't care what they do with me when I'm dead, they can bury me, cremate me or whatever. If I died tomorrow then we'd have enough in the bank to pay for a funeral (because we've been saving like mad recently - though not for a funeral!).

I think most people my age (30's) in my circle of friends don't really want to think about the idea that they might die young. Also, my friends and I are too busy making ends meet with having children / childcare costs / maternity leave pay and so on that none of us are paying enough into a pension let alone into a funeral plan.

[ballstoit]

ex FIL had a 'paupers' funeral because he left nothing but debt and, as he'd been a poor excuse for a father, ex-H and his silings wouldnt pay. If I've not got round to making a plan then I guess that's what would happen.

YABU to be shocked by the way...I can only just afford to live so don't see how I can afford to die!

[Pumpernickel10]

We have not made provisions for it but I've said what I'd like and DH wants a woodland burial. I said I don't care as long as I'm laid to rest with my moms and Nans ashes.

[Pumpernickel10]

We both have life insurance and critical care insurance too.

[AgentZigzag]

I hope you don't mind me asking mumblechum, (or hijacking Lait) but what puts me, the lazy, off making a will, is all the documents I'd have to track down.

What kinds of things would a soilicitor need to see? Or would you just give them a list of investments/savings etc?

And would you have pay a lot if you'd forgotten something or wanted to amend it?

[HackedOffAndHaressed]

Agent I didn't need any documents really to do my will.

What type of documents are you thinking of? Savings and investments will all be in your personal documents at home which your executor will have access to once you are gone.

[Pumpernickel10]

agent not sure if you need proof, when the IL did theirs they just made it out and got a solicitor to proof it

[pinkytheshrinky]

My nan is 87 and not in good health and refuses to make a will or discuss anything - she has a house full of shite and not enough money to bury her so it will be left to me to sort it all - i think as much as i love her she is a selfish old cow and is leaving me a horrible mess to sort out.

[WowOoo]

Whoever asked, it'll come from an account with an amount in it.
If family would rather spend it on something less frivolous than a party, fair enough.

[NotJustKangaskhan]

I must be quite morbid then, as I've been making provision and I'm only in my mid-twenties. My husband and I are saving up for an inexpensive funeral plan as these things can be expensive and I don't want to worry anyone else. In my eyes I may not make it to retirement, but I certainly going to die so why not plan for it like everything else?

For those asking about wills, [http://www.totallyfreewills.co.uk/ this is a good site]] even if it's just to go through the basics of what you need to think about.

Dying Matters is a great site that explains everything that is often over looked in dying and death issues that makes a really strong case for planning beforehand.

[NotJustKangaskhan]

this is a good site Teach me to preview.

[pink4ever]

Dh uncle died in really sad circumstances. He was an alcoholic and had been lying dead in his flat for a few weeks. The family only found out because they saw an article in the paper looking for relatives. Fil wanted to pay for funeral but mil refused and his other surviving sister said she couldnt afford it.
We were in a similair situation when my gran died. She was estranged from my mum and aunt so the cost of her funeral fell solely to my uncle. He is still paying it off.
I am terrified of anything happening to dh or I as have no life insurance. Have begged him to sort it out but says cant afford it.

[FlubbaBubba]

Thanks NJK - will take a look at the wills website. Might treat DH to that over the weekend :)

[5Foot5]

Crikey that sounds like the sort of thing my parent's generation would say - "I've got a bit put by to bury me with". I remember my Dad saying he went to visit his grandma once and she was just making sure her "laying out clothes" were aired.

I guess I must be just feckless - I am nearly 49 and haven't even got round to a will. I know one should but....

[NettoSuperstar]

I have no will as I have no money, and no one to take DD if die, so no point.

I did almost die last year, and it's a constant threat, as I have severe asthma, but I still have no money and no one to take DD.