As the old saying partially goes, few things are as certain as death. Whether it’s a beloved senior parent, an aging relative, or even a dear elderly neighbor, we are very likely to be in a position to plan or help plan funeral services sometime in the not so far away future.
When I was a teen I remember reading a book by Vance Packard that, among other things, detailed the various ways to save money on funerals. His books were interesting and informative and I was determined to follow the guidelines he suggested…until I was in a position when I had to do so, while dealing with waves of grief and helping family members deal with their pain as well. Saving dollars on funeral costs was the furthest thing from my mind then. All I cared about was making things as easy and comforting as possible for everyone I loved.
I thought of that when reading an interesting article in the newspaper this week. Emily Fredrix wrote, “Wal-Mart starts selling caskets, urns online,” about the fact that Walmart is now selling caskets on line at deeply discounted prices. Turns out Costco also sells caskets online, along with a few other stores including Overstock. I was interested to note that Sam’s Club does not carry caskets though they do have some lovely casket spray floral arrangements.
Walmart can ship their caskets directly to the funeral home you selected and they give you the option of taking up to 12 months to pay with low monthly payments and no interest. That could be a big help to those dealing with an unexpected death, those who have to wait on insurance payments, and those on tight budgets, especially if they’ve been dealing with a major illness requiring expensive hospitalization. Walmart cannot deliver caskets to all areas of the U.S. You should check their list now for future reference, and then check it again at the time you actually need it, as changes could occur.
Costco can also ship to the funeral home of your choice and they, too, have restrictions on where they can ship the caskets. Both also limit returns to “due to freight or cosmetic damage from shipping” and you will need to contact them before returning it.
These are definitely interesting and useful options to know about. I think it would be a bit more stressful in the short-term to go this route, as opposed to letting well-trained staff at the mortuary walk you through it all. At the same time, a very expensive funeral will cause stress over a prolonged period of time.
Discussing future plans ahead of time with all your family members, especially your senior parents, is one of the wisest steps you can take. Share this info on caskets along with information about other funeral costs with them as well and talk about what you all would prefer and what you can handle. Be aware, though, that when the time actually comes, you may change your mind just because of strong emotions. Discuss that as well so that you will all be prepared for that situation as well.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Kaye,
Wow, I had no idea that Walmart and Cotsco sold caskets. I can’t find the original article that I read, but some people are doing funerals at home again like they used to. I think this may have been the article I read: http://www.newser.com/story/46326/cash-squeezed-bereaved-hold-funerals-at-home.html?utm_source=ssp&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=story
Mary
.-= Mary´s last blog ..Caregiver Stress Anxiety May Be the Worst =-.
Hi Mary, I’m with you. I had not heard of it before but it can definitely be a useful service for many.
Thanks so much for the link about funeral services at home. That can also be a great idea, especially for our aging parents, as long as the remaining spouse or kids can handle it. The only issue I can see with it is that some people might have a hard time later as they deal with memories of the funeral service. But if the service is truly uplifting and encouraging, it might actually help with some of the memories of the preceding illness.