Look, I am a 22-year-old recent college graduate. I am focused on my first job, paying car insurance and moving into a new apartment. The last thing I want to worry about is my funeral. However, it will happen, and it could happen any day.
Funeral arrangements are something to think about, if not for myself then for my parents and grandparents, all of whom are still kicking.
When I was assigned a story about the benefits of preplanning, I had no clue how expensive the whole thing was.
I set up a meeting with a family service specialist at a local cemetery to learn how much my own funeral would cost.
When I got on the grounds, I met an older woman with silver hair who guessed my age was 25, and I was engaged (wink, wink boyfriend). Her calculations were slightly off, but mine were, too.
My preplanning consultant was upfront. Funerals are expensive, she said, and she would work to find me the lowest rate possible. After about an hour and a half, my bill came up to more than $18,000.
That’s with everything exactly the way I wanted, no cut corners. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a funeral with a casket and vault is $8,343.
After I returned to my hot, humid car, I called my mom and hit her with the figures. She said, “Child, you need to drop about $10,000 off. What are you trying to get, a gold casket?”
She was concerned about what I wanted, but she revealed that she wants us to ride her casket around Houston in a horse and carriage.
My consultant gave me a pamphlet that outlines the steps of planning a funeral, like how to start the conversation with your family.
There were sections to fill out regarding personal history and financial information like banks, safety deposit boxes, insurance records and investments.
She suggested I fill out my forms in pencil because I was young and my preferences and information might change. She said the target age for preplanning is about 40 years old, and she personally didn’t start thinking about her own arrangements until she had children.
This cemetery offers several packages. I selected a middle package for $8,495 that included the basics — a memorial budget of $575, floral allowance of $350 and casket allowance of nearly $3,000.
By buying a package, there was a $235 discount. The cemetery also offers its facilities for the repast for about $500, but the food isn’t included.
I thought I had everything I needed. However, there was more.
I had to buy a plot. I picked an average plot for $4,400. The opening and closing of the grave cost $2,195. The vault was $1,550, and the marker was $2,500. Those add-ons, which are totally necessary, made the price skyrocket.
My total funeral cost: $18,645. I was astonished. I could think of a thousand better things to do with that much money, including paying off more than $40,000 in student loans.
My consultant reassured me I could lower the price, but I would have to change what I wanted. I could use external companies for flowers, the casket, the printing and designing of the programs and other memorial essentials instead of buying a package in-house or selecting from the a la carte menu.
Then it was time to pay. She suggested I purchase the plot I wanted with a 25 percent down payment with zero interest for five years.
Then I should pay for the opening and closing, the vault and the funeral service. Later, I could purchase the marker, which could be bought after death.
I am not ready to make a down payment on my own funeral. However, this motivates me to start talking and planning out what my parents and grandparents would like.
Tierra Smith: 303-954-1046, tsmith@denverpost.com or
My funeral planning
Cremation or burial: Burial (I want to be wherever my mom wants to be)
Embalming: Yes.
Viewing: Yes.
Eulogy: Yes (Uncle, please say some nice things about me).
Memorial services: Yes.
Wedding ring returned: No (Give it to my daughter or sister).
Music: “Never Would Have Made It” by Marvin Sapp, anything by Mary Mary (Wait till you hear some of my cousins sing).
Executor: My brother (Please don’t mess this up).
Special things: Please don’t wear black, this is a celebration!
