Shopping for cremation and funeral services is never easy. Unless the deceased has preplanned their own cremation or funeral, then it is a task being done by somebody who is already dealing with a lot of stress and grief from the loss of a loved one. Understandably, under these circumstances, it can be a difficult thing to do. This is doubly true for individuals and families that are under financial duress, because funerals can be very expensive. If you are looking to reduce the cost associated with Philadelphia funeral expenses, the first thing you should consider is opting for a cremation instead of thetraditional burial.
The issue is there are so many funeral homes and different service packages available to choose from, making it a difficult task. You don’t want to get stuck unnecessarily paying thousands more than you need to. Luckily, it does not take much research in order to find some cheap cremation providers in the Philadelphia area. With just a little bit of research you will be able to find a local funeral home or crematorium that can help fulfill your needs at a reasonable price that can fit any budget, whether big or small.
Ask For References
The first bit of research is simply to ask family or friends which funeral homes they have used in the past, what their experience was, and how much it cost. By asking for the first-hand experiences of other people, you will be able to leverage their experiences, and help to avoid making any of the mistakes they might have run into previously when working with that provider. Use this to create a short list and start researching the prices for different packages that are listed on each of the respective funeral homes websites. You can look for further ratings and reviews of these businesses on popular sites like Facebook, Yelp, and Google.
Google It
If you find yourself in a situation where you are unable to ask other people for references, you can always find a quick list of funeral homes and crematoriums by simply searching Google. For instance, if you are on a tight budget, you could search something like cheap cremation in Philadelphia. From there you will be able to find a quick list of some of the more affordable cremation services in Philadelphia. Browse the results and create a short list of 3-5 funeral homes for further research. Most of the websites will have a list of various prices for differing services they offer. This will allow you to quickly find what the businesses can provide for you and at what price range.
Call or Visit the Funeral Homes
In addition to researching several of the potential service providers online, we recommend calling some of the funeral homes, or you can even go in person and visit them. The truth is the workers there are experts in this field and they are the most equipped to provide knowledgeable answers to any questions you may have, and to help guide you along the decision-making process. We do recommend reaching out to at least three different funeral homes or cremation providers during this process to best get a feel for the process. Another advantage of doing this and talking to a real person is you may be able to set up a customized package that can fit your budget. If you never talk to another person, you won’t have this opportunity, and it is something that could ultimately help you save a lot of money, and avoid a lot of stress.
Try to Relax
Ultimately, the most important advice we can give is to try and relax. Understandably, this decision is only made under times of heavy duress. The good news is that all of the research we recommend in this article can be completed within an hour. The best advice we can give is to try and understand this, and not feel overwhelmed by the decision-making process. Any decision made under these conditions runs the risk of making the situation even worse if you are not able to create a clear headspace and make a sound decision. Following this guide can help provide you with a solid mental base to stand on as you make this decision.