The Funeral Consumers Alliance recommends that you:
First, talk with your family and friends about your wishes, expectations and resources in paying for a funeral.
Know your options. You may choose to have a “traditional” funeral using a funeral home for everything; or have family and friends take responsibility for all of the arrangements; or anything in between.
Shop around and plan well. A funeral can be as elaborate and costly or as simple and inexpensive as you want.
Most people do not compare prices for goods and services on a funeral, yet it may be one of the most expensive purchases your family makes. The Federal Trade Commission requires all funeral homes to provide price quotes over the phone and/or provide you with a written General Price List (GPL) when you show up in person to discuss funeral arrangements with a funeral director. The GPL lists all of the goods and services that the funeral home offers and the price of each. It allows you to select only the items that you want. It is a good idea to visit more than one funeral home and ask for their General Price List in order to get an idea about what they offer and how much it costs.
Finally, once you have decided on what you want, put it in writing and make sure that your family and friends can easily locate your plans when the time comes.