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Original poster

Pretty morbid, but how much does a funeral cost?

33 replies

misdee · 15/12/2004 20:32

Me and dh have been talking lately about how we want to go when the time comes. I am arranging life cover for me, but its gonna be high for dh, so am thinking of setting up a 'funeral savings account' for him. He wants to be cremated, says a cheap coffin will do, as its gonna get burnt anyway. How much do you think that would cost? Take it we need hearse etc to get to the crematoprian, would probably only have 1 or 2 cars for family members.

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Caligulights · 15/12/2004 20:34

We had a very cheap funeral at the Co-Op for my Dad, and it cost just over £2000 8 years ago.

That's including the land space. A cremation would be cheaper.

nailpolish · 15/12/2004 20:36

that sounds like my MIL's funeral, misdee, which we only had in sept. she liked things simple.
it was only a 900 pounds, and another 700 for a drink and sandwiches at a local hotel for 70 people

Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 20:36

he read somewhere about cardboard coffins. any ideas on those think he said they were £50.

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KatieMaChristmas · 15/12/2004 20:38

You can have a cardboard coffin - I think....esp for cremation - I think there are policies you can buy with funeral directors to pay for it all.

Someone on here will know

Caligulights · 15/12/2004 20:40

Fifty quid for a bit of cardboard! What a rip-off!

Mind you, the wooden ones are also a rip off. Some of the ones we looked at were about £2,000 on their own. We went to one funeral parlour where the proprietor looked like he'd just stepped out of a Dickens novel, (complete with shuffling walk - honestly, he was Uriah Heep come to life) and when my Mum looked around at the coffins and their prices she said "Jesus Christ, it's cheaper to live than to die!"

OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 15/12/2004 20:41

dp's dad was cremated last year and dp was p'd off because the coffin was basically chipboard!! Is that what they mean by cardboard coffins?

hollyandlavenderwreath · 15/12/2004 20:46

that's very practical of you misdee...have savings by all means but if dh talked to me about this would think him dead (dead Ha), morbid....take life as it comes....if he lives till he's well old...personally think it's too morbid and you should have money saved but to save for your own funeral...never in a million years ...why plan every thing in your life....doesn't spontaneity exist anymore.

Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 20:48

lavender, my dh is currently very ill atm, and we both know that his time may come to an end sooner than most his age. This si all about planning. we do have other savings, but want to make sure we have enough put by in case the time comes quicker.

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Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 20:50

dh doesnt see the point of paying out loads of money for something to be burnt.

he is very practical at times!!

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Yorkiegirl · 15/12/2004 20:52

Message withdrawn

OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 15/12/2004 20:55

I think you're being a superstar misdee! I don't think i'd be so sensible about it if dp was so ill. Hope he gets better again soon

KatieMaChristmas · 15/12/2004 20:55

Misdee - I googled cardboard coffins and they seem to be very expensive...The best info was on the council site and Help the Aged.

Why not look on you local council site - as I think they control the Crem.

Also some councils have this wooden coffin which has the cardboard one inside so only the wooden one is burnt...sounds a bit odd - but they explain it better (costs about £85 I think)

I believe you to be being very brave and sensible - I was in a slightly similar situation some years ago - my DH got better and we try not to think about it now - so Zen hugs to you both

Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 20:55

no worse, no better really. He was meant to be moving wards today, but he is still on medical assessment unit when i called 30mins ago, but he says he feels better. His Liver function test have come back abnormal, and his is doing ok on no O2 atm, sats were at 95% earlier which is ok. His PARA score yesterday was a 7 (10 is the scariest number) but today is back to a 2, so some improvement. they cant locate the infection tho, so is still on anti bioctics and paracetamol to lower temp, his bp is low as well. hopefully will be out for thr weekend.

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OnZephyrstdayofXmas · 15/12/2004 20:59

whats a PARA score misdee?

Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 21:02

Its a way of measuring paitent level of fitness/illness etc. they take into account consiceness (spelling??) bp, heart rate, temp, pain felt, breathing etc. 1 is a good score, 10 is bad. i'll try and remember what PARA dtnads for later.

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Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 21:05

cheers Katie, will look it up. think dh will insist on full everton kit tho lol!! that could be the biggest expense hehe.

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pixiefish · 15/12/2004 21:12

hope your dh improves and that the following info is irrelevant

depends where you live. i live in north west wales and my friend's an undertaker and you can have a nice send off for less than a grand excluding flowers and wake . a wake tea would set you back about £6 per head. you can get pre paid plans- your local undertaker will be able to help with that.
i don't know your financial situation misdee but if things are hard you can get assistance for a decent funeral from the dss.

phone your local undertaker for a ball park figure

Carla · 15/12/2004 21:13

Good God, had no idea you were going through such grief at the moment, misdee. Sending you cyberhugs XXXX Carla

janeyjinglebops · 15/12/2004 21:13

depends what you have (church services , coffins etc) but my mum says a 'good' ne would start at about £1200 - 1500. That is in Devon

Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 21:15

no church service, dh isnt religious. the only thing he worships is his footy team. there is alovely crematorian a few towns away, would i contact them direct?

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pixiefish · 15/12/2004 21:16

no, contact your local undertaker- look in yellow pages or in the births, marriages and deaths section of your regional daily paper-

Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 21:18

ok, will do. think there is one down the rd.

dh mum doesnt know all this, she would freak!!

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pixiefish · 15/12/2004 21:20

misdee- you must do what is right for you and dh- don't tell his mum if she's likely to freak

Original poster
misdee · 15/12/2004 21:22

she went to pieces when dh was diagnosed, and still gets funny about it now, she finds it odd that this week me and dh are comparing bruises from blood tests. we have to have fun somehow!!!

I'm gonna get dh to put this all down i nwriting at somepoint about how he wants things so she cant argue about it later. i think she would want the huge church do, burial etc.

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pixiefish · 15/12/2004 21:25

If you want you can sort it all out beforehand- will look for some links to companies I've heard are good- where are you btw? region wise