Losing a loved one is an emotionally challenging time. In addition to dealing with a variety of emotions, you may feel extra stressed out while preparing for the funeral.
Due to the limited space in Singapore, 70 percent of burials are cremated, while traditional in-ground burials are loaned out for 15 years before the bodies are exhumed.
In addition, funerals can last a few days and be tailored to different religious affiliations. Overall, the funeral could cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Knowing the average price differences can help create an affordable but honorable occasion.
To help you during the period of mourning, we have prepared some tips on how to save money on the funeral so that you can make the event as stress free as possible.
Consider a brief ceremony
With over 800 funeral directors in Singapore offering funeral packages ranging from two to seven days in duration, you may be overwhelmed with your options. When you have a little cash, consider booking a shorter funeral.
Longer ceremonies, lasting anywhere from five to seven days, cost 34 percent more than the average two to three day burial.
While one potential downside to a shorter funeral is that the Covid-19 restrictions limit the funeral attendees to 30 people, you can host an online live stream of the shorter event to ease your budget and government restrictions.
Book a funeral in an HDB building, not a funeral home
What if you want a longer funeral but the location is negotiable? In that case, you can consider swapping the funeral home for your HDB building.
Funeral packages where the event is held in an HDB building cost an average of 13 percent less compared to funeral home parlors, resulting in potential savings of up to $ 1,492. If you have a funeral in an HDB building, be aware that these usually take place in the open space on the ground floor of HDB buildings.
Although this area is typically used to set up community activities, it can be a good place to give other friends and acquaintances who live in the building an opportunity to show their respect. However, if you do choose to have a ceremony in an HDB apartment, you will need to get approval from your city council.
Compare different providers
Another way to save costs is to compare the services between different funeral homes. Once you get a feel for what type of services are being offered at what cost, you can figure out which provider offers you the best value.
This is especially important if you are having a religious funeral as many salons have very different prices. For example, we found that one funeral home charged $ 5,288.00 for a three-day Buddhist funeral, while another charged $ 8,561.00, but provided nearly identical services.
Below is a benchmark of what to expect for different types of religious funerals.
Average cost of a funeral package based on length of funeral and religious affiliation
Consider hosting your own ceremony
You can also save funeral costs by foregoing the services of a funeral director by hosting your own event. If you want to have a trail you will need special government permits. However, if you have already cremated or buried your loved one, you can easily hold a ceremony in your own home or in a rented location.
Average cost of bouquet by type
If you’re hosting your own event, keep costs down by getting cheaper flower arrangements like roses and chrysanthemums. Additionally, if you cater for the event, find a caterer whose price points fit your budget.
While you don’t want to skimp on food quality, you can find some caterers in Singapore that charge as little as $ 15 per capita.
Consider cremation or alternative burials
Most funeral services will treat your loved one’s remains through cremation or burial. However, because of Singapore’s limited land mass, burials can be quite expensive. In addition, land is rented on a 15-year basis, after which buried bodies are cremated by the government.
If your loved one was impartial in how they wanted to be buried, cremation is your most affordable option. Government cremation is the cheapest option and costs an average of $ 315.
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There are also alternative methods, such as green or sea burials, although they tend to be more expensive and cost around $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 than cremation. Green burials, burials at sea, and souvenirs are more appropriate for those who are concerned about the environmental impact of underground burials.
In the event that your loved one wants a traditional funeral, you can still save up by choosing a simpler wooden box. A wooden box costs around $ 2,000, which is much less than bronze and metal boxes, which can cost over $ 10,000.
Avoid add-ons like specialty gaskets that can dramatically increase the price. While it is tempting to find something convenient for your loved one, you should watch out for supplements that cost a lot to the consumer but do little to maintain the body.
It is difficult to send to your loved one, but you will get it
While you want to give your loved ones the best possible memorial, it doesn’t have to break your budget. As you prepare for the funeral before your loved one dies, it may be worth checking to see if they have set aside money for their funeral, bought a funeral plan, or taken out life insurance.
Alternatively, you can find ways to shorten the service and reduce the total number of guests you have invited.
If you prefer to host a grand funeral to celebrate the life of loved ones and have no other financial recourse, a personal loan can be obtained. While it is not recommended in most circumstances, if you are planning to take out a loan, you should find a loan with low interest rates.
By comparing these loans, you can save hundreds of dollars in interest payments. Whichever route you ultimately choose, we hope you find the best course of action for you.
This article was first published in ValueChampion.
