My dad, a WWII/Korean/Vietnam Vet with a degree in Mortuary Science and worked for Morgue at one time said no funeral. We cremated him for $1200 (he had my mom cremated and kept her remains), gave a memorial luncheon at the Golden Corral (his favorite place to eat), and then both my parents remains were put in a vault at a Veteran’s Cemetary. Very efficient and affordable.
I told my wife to use that as a model for me and don’t spend money on a funeral.
However, I did have one request, at the luncheon set up my kegerator so people could get a cold one, have a podium and microphone where people could get up, give a toast to me by telling the worst joke they know, or the funniest story they remember about me, preferably both.
Great post. My mom, bless her (died at 101 just a few months ago) took out a $5,000 life insurance policy when she was in her early 60s thinking it would cover everything when the time came. She paid on it for all those decades...do the math! She was frugal and had saved for a few decades and she asked me when she was near the end if her life insurance policy would handle all the costs. I told her ‘don’t worry about it, it’ll be fine.’ She said, “Well, if it doesn’t, use what’s in savings.” Took all but a few thousand. I plan to be cremated, no funeral, no service, and will be buried in my mom’s plot. I am appalled at the costs. To add insult to injury, the guests who came paid thousands for personal flowers...which the cemetery demanded we took with us as the group disbursed. All...that...money for nothing.