Inexpensive cremation options to arrange your own service

Dear Savvy Senior: I would like to arrange a simple cremation that doesn’t cost a lot of money. Can you offer any tips? — Still Kicking

Dear Still Kicking: If you’re looking for a simple and affordable way to go, cremation is an excellent choice, and one that’s become exceedingly popular in the United States. About 60 percent of Americans are now choosing cremation over a traditional burial, versus only around 20 percent in the mid-1990s.

Why the big shift? Price is a key reason. A basic cremation can cost as little as $700 to $1,200, versus $7,500 or more for a traditional funeral and cemetery burial.

Here are a few tips to arrange your cremation and get a good deal:

Shop around

You can arrange a cremation through a funeral home or a cremation-only business, but it’s wise to shop around because prices vary widely. It’s not unusual for one funeral home to charge $1,000, while another charges $4,000 or more for the same service.

Call five or six funeral homes or cremation-only businesses in your area and ask them how much they charge for a “direct cremation,” which is the most affordable option. With direct cremation, there’s no embalming, viewing or memorial service. It only includes the essentials: transportation of the body, required paperwork such as death certificates, the cremation itself and return of the ashes to the family, usually within a week.

If you want a viewing, memorial service or anything beyond what a direct cremation provides, ask the funeral home for an itemized price list so you know exactly what you’re paying for. All funeral providers are required by law to provide this.

To locate nearby funeral homes, Google “cremation” or “funeral” followed by your city and state. You can compare prices from funeral homes in your area at Funeralocity.com.

Cheaper urns

The urn is another item that can drive up costs. Funeral home urns usually cost around $100 to $350, but you aren’t required to get one.

After cremation, your family will receive your ashes in a thick plastic bag inside a cardboard box. This is all they need if you intend to have your ashes scattered, but if your family wants something to display, Amazon.com and Walmart.com sell a wide variety of urns for under $50.

Green cremation

If you’re environmentally conscious, there’s also a green cremation option called “alkaline hydrolysis” that chemically dissolves the body. This is a gentler, more eco-friendly process than traditional cremation, which uses combustion. It’s legal in more than 20 states, and costs around $2,000 to $3,500. Google search “alkaline hydrolysis” followed by your city or state to find for a provider.

Free cremation

If you’re interested in a free final farewell, you may want to consider donating your body to a university medical facility. After using your body for medical research or surgical practice they will cremate your remains for free, and bury or scatter your ashes in a local cemetery or return them to your family, usually within a year.

To find a medical school near you that accepts body donations, the University of Florida offers an online directory at Anatbd.acb.med.ufl.edu/usprograms.

Whatever arrangements you end up making, be sure you tell your family your wishes so they will know what to do and who to call after your death. Also, if you have a written agreement with any funeral/cremation provider, give them a copy to let them know if you’ve prepaid or not.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.