Tag Archives: funerals

New Infographic Gives The Grave Facts About Dying

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Dying is not something most of us want to think about. Problem is, it is unavoidable and not dealing with your affairs in advance can cause trouble for loved ones. While life insurance isn’t something that most would want to talk about, it’s rather important so those left behind won’t get into debt. Dealing with grief is hard enough, but according to this brilliant infographic which outlines the associated costs of funerals; 44% of people had to take out a credit card to pay for a loved ones funeral. Even worse, 27% had to resort to a payday loan. Having a child was the catalyst for myself getting my affairs in order, but this infographic shows that most of us are still woefully underprepared for the inevitable.

Assumptions don’t help either. Apparently 41% of people think that existing funds will cover their funeral costs, but the truth is that only 22% of people have the proper life insurance in place. Even more shocking is that only 32% of people have a will should something happen to them.

Over 50 life cover is important and helps to alleviate the financial strain that often comes with arranging a funeral, as letting those left behind know how you would like to be buried (or cremated), who you would like to leave your worldly goods to and any other last wishes. This funeral planning infographic from British Seniors Insurance Agency has lots of interesting statistics: average funeral costs are cheaper in Edinburgh and most expensive in Sheffield. Londoners are more likely to take out a credit card or payday loan, and Liverpool had the highest number of respondents wanting a religious ceremony. Different regions had different worries: Londoners were more likely to take out a credit card (40%) or a payday loan (39%) to pay for a funeral, while in Brighton 17% of people worried about future inheritance disputes among family members.

The thing about the costs are that they can catch you unaware. 31% of people said they did not know what costs to expect before  they started planning a funeral. If you are lucky enough to have never planned a funeral then you will be blissfully unaware how expensive they are. The average funeral in Edinburgh is £3,947, but the average cost reaches a dizzy £5,469 in Sheffield. Londoners meanwhile pay an average of £4,543. A staggering amount of money, even for the cheapest funeral, and one that relatives might struggle to pay for.

The infographic shows that being prepared is important, but some of the findings are interesting and amusing. When it comes to the send off, 55% wanted to be buried, 22% wished to be cremated and 20% remained uncertain. However, a staggering 70% of respondents over 55 wanted to be buried. A lot of people thought creatively when it came to their final resting place. Some wanted to be buried at their favourite sports ground, some wanted to be buried in a haunte

d house, others wanted to be buried near or in the sea, while some people wanted to be buried with their spouse or their dog. No mention of other pets though.

Check out the infographic by British Seniors Insurance Agency life insurance quote provider out for yourself. Hopefully it will spur you to get your affairs in order.

life insurance, over 50,

 

 

 

Mobile Etiquette

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The mobile phone can be our closest ally at times, helping us make our lives easier and our days more efficient, these obvious advantages do not come without their drawbacks – many of which highlight the negative impact they can have on our society.

Recent research has uncovered the surprising truth; that although the majority of the public believe that use of mobile phones in public places is a nuisance, there are still many individuals who cannot differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate use of their mobile phones, when it comes to when and where they should or should not use them.

Research found that funerals topped the list of the most unacceptable events at which to use a phone, ahead of driving, being at the cinema or during a wedding. Studies have brought to light the worrying evidence that 1 in 6 Britons has admitted to making or receiving a call, or texting or using social media when they should have been paying their last respects at a funeral service.

Mobile Phone Etiquette at Funerals

Mobile Phone Etiquette at Funerals [Infographic] by the team at Co-operative Funeralcare

The Perfect Send Off: 5 Essential Tips for a Memorable Tribute

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A funeral is a sad time, of course, but it should also be seen as a celebration of the person’s life, remembering everything that was great about them and giving them the perfect send off. It’s a chance to remember the reasons that person was so loved and valued, and the contribution they made to your life.

A lot of people leave funerals thinking “that was a brilliant send off” and admiring the various factors that made it the perfect tribute. But, with every person different and having their own idea of a how they want to be buried or cremated, it can be quite difficult to choose what is “essential” to a successful funeral. No matter how well you knew the person – you might be their partner or a family member, or just a close friend – it can be difficult to get it just right and “how they would’ve wanted it.”

To help you plan the perfect send off, there are plenty of funeral directors available to help you through the process, such as Co-op funeralcare. However, there may be some personal touches that you would like to arrange things yourself. Here are five of the most important factors that you can base the day around:

 

Funeral wishes

Obviously, you need to respect the wishes of the person if they told you the way they wanted their funeral to go. For instance, they might have asked for a cremation specifically, or a burial and may even have asked for a particular type of coffin.

 

Location

If they’ve lived somewhere all of their life, or are particularly fond of a location, then burying them or scattering their ashes there would be fitting. A lot of people choose to have their ashes scattered in lakes or on football grounds for example; while others might want to be buried close to their family in particular graveyards.

 

Guests

It’s key that everyone the person would like to celebrate their life is invited to the funeral. Family, close friends, colleagues and team mates generally want to pay their respects and it’s vital that there is room for the nearest and dearest at the location, so consider those closest to the deceased first.

 

Music

What better tribute would there be than to play the person’s favourite song. Maybe they were really keen on one particular musician or group, and playing their music at the funeral would be far better than more traditional music that they may have had no connection to.

 

Clothing

The person might have had their favourite clothes – maybe a suit, football shirt or dress – and in which case it might be a nice tribute to dress them in that outfit.

 

Whatever you decide to do for the day, consider what the person would have chosen if they’d planned the day themselves. It’s very easy to get swept away by generic funeral plans, but the day can be much more memorable with all the things that meant a lot to the person – the people and themes predominantly.