Planning your own funeral - things to consider

Help with funeral costs with a prepaid plan or over 50 life insurance
Arrange your own funeral so your family won’t have to
Choose the funeral you want at the price you want to pay
Understand how to make a will and arrange power of attorney

In this guide – Options for planning your own funeral including prepaid funeral plans, over 50 life insurance, direct cremation and making a will

Planning your own funeral

Planning your own funeral in advance can save time, money and stress for your family when the time comes. It allows you to create your preferred funeral so that you can be remembered according to your wishes. Preplanning your funeral also takes some of the weight off your family’s shoulders, as they’ll have fewer difficult decisions to make at an emotional time.

Our guides, information and comparisons have been created to help you plan your own funeral. From pre-paying and planning everything in advance to adding those personal touches, Over50choices can help.

Prepaid funeral plans

Freeze costs at today's prices
Plans start from £2,895
Flexible payment options
Authorised plan providers

Over 50 life insurance

Guaranteed acceptance
Simple & Affordable cover
Compare leading quotes
Premiums from £3.70 a month

Direct cremation

A cheap alternative
Funeral with no service
Plans start from £1,495
A dignified no fuss cremation

Useful guides

Personalising a funeral

Funeral music
Funeral poems
Choosing a coffin
How to write a eulogy

Making a will

Types of wills
How to make a will
Will costs
Charity wills

Power of Attorney

What is power of attorney
Types
How to get it
Costs

What we do

How to plan your own funeral

Planning your own funeral lets you choose the funeral you want, at the price you want to pay. It ensures your wishes will be clear, even after you’re gone. Whether you plan your funeral down to the last detail or just put a few pointers in place, doing so will lighten the load on your loved ones when the time comes.

Things to consider when planning your own funeral

Planning your own funeral can be as detailed as you want it to be. You may just want to help with funeral costs, perhaps by putting a prepaid funeral plan, over 50 life insurance or savings in place. Alternatively, you may wish to make it more personal, by choosing the music, poems or flowers. Perhaps even a favourite colour your friends and family should wear.

To help you think about the type of plan you want to put in place for your funeral, you could consider the following:

Do you want to be cremated or buried?
If cremation, what should happen to the ashes?
If burial, do you have a plot? Do you want a woodland burial?
Do you want some form of memorial stone – plaque?
Who will make the arrangements and contact the funeral director?
Do you want a funeral service? If so, where and do you want it?
Who should conduct the service? A celebrant, religious leader or humanist?
Who should attend? Do you want them to wear a specific colour?
What music, poems, readings, prayers would you like?
Do you want flowers or donations to charity? Which charity?
Do you want your friends and family to have a wake? Where?

When should you plan your own funeral?

You can start planning your own funeral whenever it feels right for you. The death of a loved one or recent funeral often forces people to consider their own mortality and put plans in place. Or perhaps you just think planning your own funeral in advance will help those you love.

While thinking of ideas for your own funeral may feel strange, it really isn’t. These are the little details that make the service more special and more “you” for the people who love you most.