Paying for your own funeral in advance can clear your mind of any worries about your family or friends having to take on the organisation or the costs.
Although there are a number of ways to prepay for a funeral, not all of them are within everyone’s financial capability. Monthly funeral payment plans are one way to pay for a funeral ahead of time and can be paid for in a single payment or in monthly instalments to suit different budgets. Plans range from elaborate, traditional funerals, to simple low cost funerals for those who value simplicity or want to prioritise their money elsewhere.
In this guide, we walk you through the most practical and effective ways to pay for a funeral, plus how to pay for a funeral in advance, and more, to bring you comfort and peace of mind.
By planning ahead and considering these options, you can ensure that your funeral costs are covered, and provide your loved ones with one less thing to worry about during a challenging time.
There are a number of ways to pay for your own funeral, all of which offer practical solutions and, ultimately, peace of mind.
1. Use your own assets
Setting aside a portion of your assets specifically for funeral costs is a straightforward way to manage this expense. This could include savings, investments, or any other financial resources you have. By earmarking these funds, you ensure that your family won’t have to worry about the financial burden during a difficult time.
2. Life insurance
Purchasing a life insurance policy is another effective method. These policies can be used to cover various expenses, including funeral costs. When you pass away, the policy will pay out a lump sum to your beneficiaries, who can then use it to cover all or part of your funeral expenses. This provides peace of mind knowing that your loved ones will have financial support when they need it most.
3. Funeral plans
Many funeral providers offer prepaid funeral plans. These allow you to pay in advance for your funeral at today’s prices, which can protect against future price increases. These plans can be paid in one single payment or through manageable monthly payments, and they cover various aspects of the funeral service, ensuring that your wishes are respected.
4. Agree a plan with a funeral director
Directly discussing your wishes with a funeral director can also be beneficial. Many funeral directors offer plans where you can pre-arrange and pre-pay for your funeral. This approach allows you to tailor the arrangements to your preferences and provides a clear outline of the services and costs involved.
5. Draw upon cash reserves
Maintaining a cash reserve that is specifically set aside for your funeral expenses is another practical option. This could be a dedicated savings account or a portion of your existing cash savings. Ensuring these funds are readily available alleviates potential stress and financial strain on your family.
A prepaid funeral plan is a thoughtful and practical way to manage your funeral's future costs and arrangements. It allows you to pay for your funeral services in advance at a fixed price, which can help protect you and your family against inflation and rising costs in the future.
With a prepaid funeral plan, you can select the specific services you want for your funeral, such as the type of ceremony (burial or cremation), the length of the ceremony and how extravagant you would like the send off to be. Plans can be paid for upfront or through monthly instalments.
For example, at Distinct Cremations, we offer four fuss-free funeral plans which can be paid in a single payment or monthly over 12 months, 5 years or 10 years.
The main advantage of a prepaid funeral plan is the peace of mind it provides. You know your wishes will be respected, and your family will be spared the stress of making arrangements and finding the funds at a challenging time. It's a compassionate way to take care of the future, ensuring that your loved ones can focus on remembering and honouring your life without the added worry of funeral expenses.
Paying for a funeral ahead of time for yourself or someone else reduces the emotional and financial pressure of arranging a funeral at the time of bereavement and can also save money.
Once a funeral payment plan is set up and paid for the funeral will go ahead as arranged and there won't be any extra to pay even if funeral prices rise.
Since 2004, funeral costs have more than doubled+ so getting a plan now ensures you don't have to pay inflated costs later down the line.
+ Average funeral costs have risen 126% since 2004 from £1,835 to £4,141 (Sunlife Cost of Dying Report 2024, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
Pre-arranging your own funeral makes sure your wishes are clear and will be honoured.
Some people want an elaborate funeral with limousines, floral tributes and many mourners.
Others prefer a cremation only with no attendees to prioritise their money elsewhere or have a unique celebration of life instead.
Funeral providers often need payment or a deposit upfront before carrying out their services.
Getting money from someone's estate, government support or other later-life financial planning products like life insurance or over 50s life cover may require a death certificate first.
In this case, the person organising the funeral may have to initially pay out of their own pocket.
If you're arranging a funeral for someone else, funeral planning ahead of time lets you make arrangements when you're not also grieving.
With a plan in place, it just takes a phone call to start the funeral arrangements straightaway.
Decided that a funeral plan is right for you? The next step is to choose a specific plan.
Decide on the type of funeral you’d like.
Do you want a burial, cremation or a direct cremation?
A direct cremation is an unattended cremation service and can be a good option if you want a cheap cremation to save money. Direct cremation also gives loved ones the opportunity to hold a separate more personal memorial in their own time.
Research which provider suits you best.
Consider who offers the best value including any added extras you want, who gives you the best service and who can best accommodate your wishes and requirements.
Choose whether you want to pay in one go or over a longer period.
Paying monthly gives you flexibility whereas paying upfront provides instant peace of mind.
We specialise in low cost funerals without frills or fuss. We have four funeral plans to choose from.
Find information about our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan and Small Attended Cremation Plans below or for a full length celebrant led funeral service see our Simple Funeral Plan.
For additional pricing information and a full list of our optional extras, please see our price list.
Our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan is a great choice for those looking for a simple, low-cost unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony.
With our Unattended Direct Cremation Plan, the cremation takes place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed.
Our Small Attended Cremation Plans offer a private funeral where the number of people attending is limited to a small gathering of friends and family.
With our Small Attended Cremation Plans, you can have up to 8 people attending a 10 minute service or up to 20 people attending a 20 minute service.
Adults, regardless of age or health, can take out a plan with us.
You can pay for our funeral plans in a single payment upfront or monthly over a year, 5 years or 10 years. The payment method that is right for you depends on your circumstances.
Paying for a funeral in advance all in one go is cost-effective and gives you instant reassurance that your funeral arrangements are sorted. Once the plan is fully paid for, the funeral will go ahead no matter how soon it’s needed.
| This payment option could be suitable for you if… | A different payment option may be better for you if… |
|---|---|
| You want to save money. | Getting the money together to pay in one go would be hard. |
| You want instant funeral cover. | Buying the plan would put you in debt. |
| You have savings or the ability to save up. | You'd prefer to pay over time and put your savings towards something else. |
Paying over a year spreads the cost but you won’t pay any extra than you would paying in one go.
| This payment option could be suitable for you if… | A different payment option may be better for you if… |
|---|---|
| You don’t have the money available upfront but still want the best value. | The monthly payments are still too expensive. |
| You want to spread the cost. | You are expecting a death within the next year. |
It's worth noting if the person covered by the plan dies before all 12 payments are made, the balance of the plan will need to be paid. Otherwise, the plan will be refunded instead of the funeral being delivered.
You can still get the funeral you want without having to pay a large amount in one go. Paying over 5 or 10 years requires the least amount of money to be paid upfront, but will cost you more overall.
| This payment option could be suitable for you if… | A different payment option may be better for you if… |
|---|---|
| You want to pay less each month. | You want to spend less overall. |
| You don’t want to sacrifice any pre-existing savings. | You think you might miss payments. |
Be aware that if you can't keep up with the payments you could lose the money you’ve previously paid and your plan might be cancelled.
Want more information about our different payment options? Researching funeral plans can be a lot to take in and we would never want you to take out a plan that isn't right for you. We're on hand to help if you need us.
Want to talk through our options? If you have questions or would like some in-person support we’re just a call away.
Need some time to digest the details? You can download a PDF of our guide online or get a printed copy posted out.
If you’re happy that one of our plans is exactly what you’re looking for, you can get everything set up yourself online.
Funeral plan providers have to follow strict rules to make sure your money is looked after and the funeral you’ve paid for will take place as promised.
Distinct Funeral Plans Limited (DFPL) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which all legally-operating funeral plan providers have to be. We take our obligation to keep our funeral plans safe very seriously. We look after your money and our plans also cover you for accidental death from day one.
Part of the FCA rules for funeral plan providers is that they must give you clear prices and clear information about what’s included upfront. This avoids the risk of there being hidden and unexpected costs that you weren’t aware you had to pay.
It’s worth doing the research when you’re choosing a funeral plan to discover the one you want. Take the time to feel comfortable that you’re making the right choice for you and always read the T&Cs before paying for a funeral in advance.
Our funeral plans don't have any hidden extras and the upfront cost or payment schedule of our plans will not change once the plan's been set up.
Being able to arrange and pay for a funeral in advance can be useful, especially if your relative or loved one is nearing the end of their life or needs care.
Once a plan is set up, your funeral provider can set the arrangements in motion as soon as they are told to do so.
So if you live far away or you are travelling away from home, setting up a funeral plan for someone else reassures you that they will be respectfully brought into the care of the funeral provider you trust.
Set up a plan for someone elseAs well as setting up a prepayment funeral plan, there are other ways you can prepare for a funeral ahead of time too, whether it's for yourself or you're thinking about arrangements for someone else.
Your life can be commemorated in many unique and personal ways. Explore your options and get ahead with the practical arrangements.
Prepare for your own death
Our cremation funerals can also be arranged at the time of need if your loved one is receiving end-of-life care or you've had a recent bereavement.
Arrange a funeral nowWe offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.
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