Introduction
The cost of living has been on a steep rise longer than we care to remember. The necessities of life are now priced at the luxuries of life a few years ago.
As someone who only studied Economics and Accounting in high school, I have no idea what is really happening here. I don’t know what the future may hold or when, or if, things will get better.
Along with these costs to live is also the cost of dying.
The Cost of Dying
It is known that funeral costs can be excessive. Probably everyone has either heard or experienced the shock that some families have been charged. The companies that specialise in this area tend to focus more on costs than on savings.
It isn’t surprising that many families choose a “no frills” funeral simply because of the expense. Many older individuals don’t want to burden their families with this cost.
Not Many Choices
One of the realities of death is that when it happens, it needs to be attend to immediately. You can’t postpone it – unlike buying a new car. Due to the nature of death, things need to happen sooner rather than later.
Moreover, what families can do is tightly regulated. A DIY funeral still requires going through all the necessary steps. You can’t decide to have your own Viking funeral with an old dinghy and a can of petrol down at the beach. Though I bet there are some who wouldn’t mind having that option.
So it’s usually cremation or burial, along with the necessary paperwork to process as well.
The Pressure
I don’t need to explain the pressure this can place on families. Being bombarded with funeral insurance ads adds to this sense of foreboding regarding costs.
Sometimes there is the pressure of what we think the expectations of others are. Does a full funeral service show more respect and dignity than a simpler option?
There is also the pressure when arranging a funeral service, as some funeral homes use subtle techniques that encourage families to spend more than perhaps they realise or planned for.
Government Grants
WINZ does have a funeral grant. It is around $2500 and limited to those who have no other means for a funeral. Contrast this with the Funeral Industry that has stated that the average funeral in New Zealand costs $10,000. That’s right – the average funeral.
I’m not sure when the funeral grant was reassessed. I don’t think it has happened for several years. So even with all these rising costs, there is limited support for funeral expenses.
The basic cost of the cheapest funeral – Direct Cremation – has risen significantly over recent years. Cremation costs have sky-rocketed, general running costs and all the unseen behind the scene costs still rise. And these costs need to be met.
Conclusion
When someone dies, the family need to deal with the situation. Regardless of cost, preparedness, or timing.
Funerals can be extremely difficult times, full of emotion and turmoil. The loss of a loved one is hard enough without the additional financial pressures it brings for some.
This last stage of life shouldn’t be marred simply because of cost, with people not wanting to place any additional financial stress on their loved ones. This is such an important aspect of our lives, that perhaps we need to look at things again.
I’m grateful that SDF is able to offer only low cost funeral options with dignity.