A funeral home is required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide you with itemized costs of specific services, both over the phone and in writing. Use the cost list to shop for the kind of funeral you want within the price range you can afford. The funeral provider must tell you truthfully about the state and local government laws and the particular funeral regulations that affect your decision. You do not have to accept every item that is listed by the provider. Consider embalming, for example.
Cremation requires neither embalming nor a casket.
A cemetery plot is necessary for burial and is an expense entirely separate from the funeral home charges. Contact more than one cemetery for prices and services offered. Costs include the price of the burial plot, opening and closing the grave, perpetual care of the grave site, and grave liner. Think twice about buying a cemetery plot. You could move and although your body can be transported to the cemetery upon your death, that will raise the cost.