When a loved one dies, often the only thing the family’s mind is sorrow, but people cannot mourn those who pass forever. Death is a natural part of life that happens to us all and eventually people have to move on. One of the major steps facilitating moving on is having a funeral to honor the life of the deceased. A funeral, however, is anything but easy to arrange or easy to pay for.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association the average funeral costs more than $6,000. Though getting the best bargain may be the farthest thing from your mind after a family member’s death, there is nothing wrong with honoring the deceased in a respectful yet reasonably priced manner.

Here are some suggestions on managing funeral costs:

• Shop around. It sounds crass, but prices can range greatly from funeral home to funeral home. Many people choose a funeral home because the family used it in the past or a friend held a funeral there, but with so much money at stake you are doing yourself a disservice by not at least exploring your options.
• Though it is not always possible, try planning some elements of the funeral in advance. This way you can not only compare prices during a less stressful time, but you can even get input from the person who matters most: the one who will actually be honored at the funeral. If your grandfather would prefer a simple casket, for instance, not only are you saving money but you are carrying out his wishes. 
• Consider cremation instead of burial. A “direct” cremation can cost less than $1,000. In a direct cremation the deceased is cremated without an actual funeral service or viewing, which saves significantly on the associated costs. Even if you want a viewing for your loved one, a cremation is still less costly than burial as a plot and memorial are unnecessary. 
• A casket is often the most significant cost of a funeral so shop around and consider getting a less expensive one. Also, many people do not realize that you do not have to buy your casket from the funeral home. Funeral homes often have extraordinary markups on their caskets so be sure to compare – you can even use the internet to purchase a casket and it can be delivered to a funeral home within days. 
• Like in a wedding, flowers can add a large amount of expense to a funeral for very little use. A reasonable amount of flowers done well can add greatly to the funeral without adding great cost.
• Do not buy a package from the funeral home as they often contain numerous unnecessary or overpriced items. 
• Do not buy new clothes for burial, especially outfits the funeral home offers. An excellent, and free, alternative is burying the deceased in a favorite or recognizable outfit. If you prefer a suit, consider a reasonable suit from department store instead of a tailored suit. 
• Do not purchase a rubber gasket, sometimes called a protective sealer. Though many funeral homes recommend it, it is said by some inside the industry to be overpriced by hundreds of dollars and completely ineffective.
• Monuments, like coffins, are a very large expense that can be curbed by both comparing prices and opting for a simpler, more subdued design.
  

Finally, there is sometimes assistance available for paying for the funeral:

• Social Security Administration: offers $255 that is payable to a spouse or minor children of the deceased for use towards funeral expenses. It is available if you meet “certain requirements” according to the government’s official website.
• Veterans Administration: Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces as well as certain civilians who worked for the military are entitled to be buried at a national cemetery for free.