Planning your own funeral: what to consider

Why plan ahead?

Planning ahead offers numerous benefits that can ease the burden on your loved ones. Here are some of the main reasons to plan for your own funeral.

Peace of mind

Planning your own funeral provides peace of mind for both you and your family. Knowing that your wishes will be carried out exactly as you want allows you to focus on enjoying life without worrying about the inevitable. For your loved ones, it alleviates the burden of making difficult decisions, or any uncertainty during a time of grief.

Pay in advance

Paying for your funeral in advance can significantly ease the financial pressure on your family. By taking care of the expenses now, you lock in today's prices and avoid potential future inflation.

For example, since 2004, funeral costs have more than doubled from £1,835 to £4,141^[1], meaning pre-paying can secure current prices and save money. This ensures that your family won’t have to worry about financing your funeral during an emotionally challenging time.

^[1] SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/ funeral-costs

Keep your wishes safe

Documenting your funeral preferences guarantees that your final wishes are respected. Whether you prefer a traditional service or a simple celebration of life, detailing your choices ensures that everything will be handled according to your desires, giving you control over your final farewell.

How to plan your own funeral

1. Decide on the kind of funeral you’d like

When thinking about what kind of funeral you'd like, it’s important to consider your personal preferences, beliefs, and values. One of the first steps in this process is to decide between cremation or burial. Each option has its benefits and considerations:

Cremations

Cremations are typically less expensive than burials.
They also provide more flexibility. For example, options for ashes include scattering, keeping in an urn, or creating memorial items.
Cremations are considered more environmentally friendly.

Burials

Burials are typically more expensive than cremations.
They are often chosen for cultural or religious reasons.
Burial provides a permanent resting place, allowing family to visit.
A burial allows for a variety of choices across caskets, burial plots and headstones, though these additional considerations can increase funeral costs.

Laptop On Table With Coffee

2. Think about service details

When planning your funeral, consider the specifics of how you want the service to be conducted. These details can greatly impact the overall tone and cost of the funeral. For example, you might want to think about whether you want a simple or elaborate ceremony.

If you did have a more elaborate ceremony in mind, it’s important to remember that this kind of service tends to be more expensive due to additional elements and arrangements.

Alternatively, a simple funeral without the details associated with traditional services offers a more affordable option.

Here are some key points to consider:

Decide if you want your ashes scattered, kept in an urn, or divided among family members.
Consider whether you prefer a simple service or an elaborate ceremony.
Choose songs that hold personal significance or that you believe will comfort your loved ones.
Think about whether you want a separate celebration of life event in addition to or instead of a traditional funeral.

3. Choose a funeral provider

Choosing the right funeral provider is an important step in planning your own funeral. The provider you select will play a significant role in ensuring your wishes are fulfilled and that the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible for your loved ones.

The right provider should offer services that align with your preferences and budget while providing support and guidance during a difficult time.

Think about the following when choosing a provider:

Compare prices to find a provider that fits your budget.
Ensure they offer the type of service you desire, whether it's a traditional funeral, direct cremation, or something else.
Consider providers with multiple locations or a nationwide presence for added convenience.

Here’s a checklist of questions to ask potential providers:

What services are included in the price?
Are there any additional costs?
Do they offer the type of service you prefer?
Do they help with administrative details like funeral documents?
What are their customer reviews like?

At Distinct Cremations, customer service is our top priority. Read our reviews to find out why we're one of the most trusted direct cremation companies in the UK.

4. Consider a funeral plan

When planning your own funeral, deciding how to pay for it is one of the biggest considerations. A pre-paid funeral plan can help you cover costs in advance and ensures all details are handled according to your wishes.

The biggest benefit of a funeral plan is that it locks in costs at today's prices, protecting against future price increases. With funeral costs having more than doubled from £1,835 to £4,141 ^[2], this can save you a significant amount of money.

This makes funeral plans one of the most popular ways to pay for a funeral, with 37% of people choosing this option. ^[3]

A funeral plan also provides financial flexibility. For example, at Distinct Cremations, our plans can be paid as a one-off payment, monthly over 12 months, or over 5 or 10 years.

Our funeral plans cover essential elements such as:

Funeral director services, including legal and cremation paperwork.
Collection by private ambulance and preparation for cremation.
A coffin and cremation at one of our crematoriums.
Ashes delivered back to the family within 14 days or scattered at the crematorium.

Considering a funeral plan can provide peace of mind, knowing that both the financial and logistical aspects of your funeral are taken care of in advance. Learn more about how funeral plans work in our guide.

^{[2] & [3]} SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/ funeral-costs

Our funeral plans

Our low cost funeral plans let you arrange and pay for a simple and affordable funeral for yourself or a loved one ahead of time.

Pre-planning now ensures your final farewell is carried out according to your wishes and your loved ones are protected from the emotional and financial burden of arranging a funeral during such a challenging time.

All of our fuss-free funeral plans include:

Collection by private ambulance and preparation for cremation at our state-of-the-art mortuary facilities.
Essential funeral director services including help with all legal and cremation paperwork.
A coffin and respectful cremation at one of our own crematoriums.
Ashes personally delivered back to the family within 14 days or respectfully scattered at the crematorium.

Unattended Direct Cremation Plan

From £1,699
or £19.44* per month

Celebrate a life without the restrictions of a funeral

A simple, dignified and
affordable option
No formal service or
attendees present

Find out more Buy a plan now

Small Attended Cremation Plans

From £2,099
or £25.23** per month

Two simple service options for a family-led send off

A 10 minute service for
up to 8 attendees OR
A 20 minute service for up to 20 attendees

Find out more Buy a plan now

Simple
Funeral Plan

From £2,999
or £37.45*** per month

A respectful cremation funeral led by a celebrant

Unrestricted number
of attendees
A full length service at
the crematorium

Find out more Buy a plan now

* Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,332.80 and includes administration fees. ** Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £3,027.60 and includes administration fees. *** Price advertised is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £4,494.00 and includes administration fees.

For additional pricing information and a full list of our optional extras, please see our price list.

We offer the highest level of support, but don't take our word for it

Below are a selection of reviews from those who followed their instinct with Distinct and chose to buy a funeral with us.

4.9/5

4.8/5

4.7/5

Read all our reviews

Hayley, on Trustpilot 16 Oct 2024

From the moment I contacted Distinct Cremations after my father's passing my mind was put at ease. All of the staff were caring, compassionate & respectful. They handled all of the paperwork and made it that much easier for me. I was contacted at all of the stages and I was reassured by the fact that I could contact them at anytime. The ashes were delivered to me in such a dignified, compassionate way. Thank you to everyone at Distinct Cremations for helping me through such a difficult time.

Tresa Spruce, on Trustpilot 15 Oct 2024

My mom wished for me to deal with my brother's unattended cremation, as she was too distraught to deal with it. I did a search and found Distinct Cremations to be the most appealing for our needs. From the initial telephone call with Darren, and then follow up dealings with Alice, I can say that the whole process was very caring and considerate. I was kept informed at every stage of events, from collection of my brother, to service details, to follow up after cremation. I couldn't have asked for more. Thank you all x

Anonymous, on Feefo 15 Oct 2024

Very pleased with this plan just what I was after peace of mind

Caroline Bush, on Google 14 Oct 2024

Distinct Cremations made it so easy for me to purchase a cremation plan. The lady on the phone “Fiona” explained everything so I understood. My documents arrived all in order and to be honest “it’s a weight off my mind” knowing when the time comes it’s all sorted. Thank you so much to everyone at “DC” they also followed up with a courtesy call to make sure that I had received my plan and that everything was in order which it was. It’s a 10 off 10 from me :-)).

Alma Aganovic , on Trustpilot 11 Oct 2024

We chose Distinct Cremations to provide pre-need cremation services. From the very first interaction, their care and attentiveness exceeded our expectations. During what was an incredibly difficult and emotional time, the staff showed genuine compassion and understanding, making us feel supported every step of the way. They even suggested elements that we could include in the service, which was particularly helpful at a time when we were not feeling creative. They took the time to explain each part of the process clearly, ensuring that we felt comfortable and informed without ever feeling rushed or pressured. Their empathy was evident in every conversation, and their willingness to accommodate our specific wishes brought us much-needed peace of mind. The whole team went above and beyond in handling all the details, which allowed us to focus on honoring our loved one rather than worrying about logistics. Their professionalism and sensitivity were a great comfort, and it truly made a difference in our grieving process. We are deeply grateful for the care they provided and would highly recommend Distinct Cremations to anyone in need of cremation services. Their commitment to helping families in times of loss is truly exceptional. Thank you all, especially Maxine. x

Alice Alexander, on Feefo 10 Oct 2024

From the moment we got in touch with you the person we spoke to was so friendly and in tune with what we want excellent

Timothy Holman, on Trustpilot 9 Oct 2024

Distinct Cremations are an immensely professional organisation that make the process off organising a cremation plan so easy. “Fiona” , the lady that took my call explained everything I needed to know to get my plan set up “which I did”. My documents arrived shortly after and were in order , I received a follow up phone call to check that everything is ok. Thank you so much “DC” it’s a 10 from me. :-)).

Mrs I Dixon, on Trustpilot 8 Oct 2024

After reading the brochure and all the reviews, I decided to ring up. I spoke to a friendly and polite lady who kindly answered any concerns I had, so I decided to go ahead with the arrangements. The whole process was straight forward from start to finish. Would recommend to friends and family.

4.9/5

4.8/5

4.7/5

Read all our reviews

Planning your own funeral

Planning your own funeral