Frequently Asked Question: What is the Cheapest Cremation Option?

People often find it difficult to talk about the cost when planning a funeral because they feel obligated to do everything they can to honour their loved one regardless of what they can afford.

If you’re considering a cremation funeral, we have put together this short guide to help understand the options available to keep it within budget yet celebrate the life lost.

Consider A Direct Cremation

What is a direct cremation? A direct cremation is when the deceased is taken to the crematorium for crematorium but doesn't have a memorial service there. Typically, there is no option to embalm, view the deceased or customise anything. As a result, a direct cremation is the simplest and often the cheapest cremation option. While offering significant cost savings with minimal planning required, it still affords the highest service and care.

However, this option on its own is unsuitable for those who desire a traditional funeral or memorial service.

Direct Cremation with a Memorial Service

Since an unattended cremation is not right for everyone, we offer the option to hold a separate memorial service. Often held at one of our local funeral homes or a private venue before the direct cremation takes place, it allows people to say a final farewell while still keeping the cost relatively low. You can personalise many options for this kind of funeral to suit your budget, including orders of service, music and coffin type.

Depending on your preferences, there may be additional fees for transportation to and from the venue, your coffin selection or hospitality for example.

Tips for controlling your budget

Remember, a cheap cremation doesn't mean you can't tailor many aspects of the funeral to remember your loved one.

Memorials are a great way to personalise and remember them. Consider choosing a piece of elegant jewellery made from your loved one's ashes, or a purchasing a plaque or planting a rose at the location where they were cremated, is a lasting way to keep their memory alive.

If you want a more traditional funeral, minimise costs by choosing basic options for caskets, urns, and memorial services to ensure the cremation is affordable and within your budget.

Remember, the most important thing is to choose something that feels right for you and your loved one that doesn't put you in financial difficulty.

Plan Ahead with a Funeral Plan

Another way to manage the budget is to pay for a funeral in advance if possible and a pre-paid funeral plan allows you to do just that.

Fosters Direct Cremation Plan is the cheapest funeral plan in Scotland and is a good way to lock in today's price whilst giving peace of mind that everything will be taken care of when the time comes meaning those left behind aren't struggling to find the money at an already difficult time.