$3500 coffin $700-$1000 on line.
Cremation is even cheaper.....I plan on that. I want my ashes in the same kind of marble urn my daughter begged me to buy for the Great Dane she loved and had to put down.
I want to be up on that mantel with the dog.
We have arranged for a “basic cremation casket”, which is about $1300. and can certainly be used for a regular burial. It’s simply a very plain pine number, with wooden handles and no hardware. My brother was buried in such at a natural burial cemetery, and those don’t allow caskets that use any metal or varnishes.
It was surprisingly well made and though simple, was very nice in appearance. I may check it out online, and see if the local funeral home will allow it (never know in NY), because if I can save even a few hundred I can put that towards the tiny memorial stone. I wish I could get one of those online cheap.
It’s tough when you take the steps to plan ahead, pay into a policy for many years, but the costs of services spike waaayyy past the planned figures. Again, I am thankful that I brought the plot years ago. I splurged and let Pop pick out the “fancy” cemetery, and the plot in the “ritzy” section. He said he doesn’t care about the funeral, but the burial plot WAS very important to him. And, after he had seen the casket my brother was buried in, he did say that he liked it and would like the same kind. LOL, so I’m off the hook about guilt over that item!
Then what do you do with it? You have to find a funeral home who will allow you to use your own coffin purchased elsewhere.
Depends on the state. The Undertakers may no bury you if you have a discount casket.