Of all the life events people talk about, my guess is funerals are the least popular. But it's a conversation that could save your family a lot of heartache and money during difficult times.
So, where do you start?
Funeral Consumers Alliance recommends that you shop around.
Funerals are a business transaction, just like buying a car or appliance, so you need to treat it like one. Compare prices for the services that you nee and ask for less expensive options. If they can't provide them, check another one.
Funeral homes are required by law to give you prices over the phone, which can help relieve the pressure of being upsold on more expensive services.
Sit down with your family to decide how much you can afford. Then, you'll want to figure out how it will be paid for.
Will you set up a savings account specifically for funeral expenses? Are you interested in a trust that you pay for upfront and can lock in prices? Find out more paying for funerals here.
Or do you want to purchase an insurance policy to cover the costs?
These are lots of questions that are better answered now, rather than when your family is vulnerable.
Need my help?
Call the Assistance League of Phoenix volunteers at 1-855-323-1515. You can also send me an email or a video email where you attach a video explaining the problem.
And you can reach me on Twitter or "like" the Let Joe Know Facebook and tell me about it there.