With a tumultuous financial year in 2022, has this affected the cost of a funeral in 2023? In short, yes. While families are choosing lower cost arrangements, the overall cost of dying has increased 3.8% since 2021, according to SunLife insurance. The cost of dying now sits at £9,200 - the second most expensive year since their records began in 2004.
What does the ‘cost of dying’ include? This cost includes funeral fees, the cost of a send-off (such as a wake or optional extras like flowers or catering) and professional fees (relating to fees to administer the estate). In 2022, funeral fees were the biggest expense, covering 43% of the overall cost of dying at £3,953.
Costs breakdown
Costs vary greatly across the UK. London remains the most costly place for a funeral in the UK with an average funeral cost of £5,283 while Northern Ireland is the cheapest area, with prices coming in at £3,317. Many of the optional costs associated with a send-off can be where additional, perhaps unnecessary spending can occur. The current average for the costs associated with a send-off includes:
Death Notice £77 Funeral Notice £80 Order of service £105 Flowers £210 Venue Hire £312 Limo Hire £353 Catering £467 Memorial £1,064
Where can I save money on funeral costs?
One of the biggest ways to save on the price of a funeral is opting for a more basic funeral or even a direct cremation which means opting out of having an attended service altogether. An average direct cremation is currently £2,162 cheaper than a traditional cremation *.
Money could be saved on the send-off by reducing or even omitting optional extras like flowers, not having an order of service or reducing the number you arrange catering for*.
At Golden Charter, we make sure our funeral plans are as flexible as possible. We have five plans to choose from, so whatever type of service or send-off you’d like, you’ll be able to pick the plan that best suits your needs and budget. Our plans include options for a variety of coffins from a basic coffin to a superior. Selected plans can also include up to two limousines for transporting family to and from the service. This may be another area where you may choose to opt-out to save a bit more.
What can I do to prepare for the cost of a funeral?
Despite the average cost of a funeral falling slightly in 2021 and 2022, funeral costs have risen 116% overall since the SunLife Cost of Dying Report began in 2004. What does this mean for the cost of funerals in the future? SunLife predicts they are only on the rise, expecting the cost of a funeral alone to reach £5,088 by 2027. Prepare for the cost of a funeral and make your wishes known with a pre-paid funeral plan.
Starting from just £23.30 per month, a plan with Golden Charter locks in the cost of funeral director services at today’s prices. When the time comes, just one call to your funeral director is all that’s needed to activate your plan and everything will be carried out according to your wishes. Plans also include an allowance towards third-party fees that may be incurred when planning your funeral including burial or cremation fees or officiant fees.
