There are a few ways to make the burial of your loved one more affordable.
The cheapest form of burial is to select an immediate burial, which means that a memorial service must be planned fairly quickly. With this type of arrangement, the body is buried soon after death without the need for embalming or visitation services. The only costs will be for the most basic services as well as the purchase of a casket and burial plot if not already pre-paid.
Direct cremation is also a very cheap form of burial chosen by approximately 50% of Americans. The average cost of a cremation ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the provider, in contrast to the average cost of approximately $8,000 for a full-service funeral and burial.
In both cases, you may be able to save even more by waiving the option for a graveside service.