Having a loved one pass away unexpectedly creates a difficult situation, but not having a lot of money to put toward the funeral can make the situation even more depressing. If you have to bury a loved one but are on a budget, there are things you can do to still respect the life of your loved one without spending a fortune to bury them. The guide below provides you with a few ways to save money on a loved one's unexpected funeral.

Choose Cremation Over a Traditional Burial

A traditional burial can be very expensive because of all of the preparation that has to take place in order for a body to be buried. Cremation is often a very affordable option because it takes very little time or effort on the part of the mortician.

Choose to Rent a Casket

Many families choose to have a wake before the funeral to allow family members to get together to pay their last respects to their loved one that passed away and to grieve together. To save money on burial costs, ask the funeral director if you can rent a casket to use for the wake so that everyone can see your loved one for one last time. The caskets that are available for rent at many funeral homes have a very generic look to them. You will not be able to customize the casket all, as it will be a rental. If you're interested, you can click here for more info on caskets.

Choose Balloon Displays Rather Than Flower Arrangements

Flowers can be very expensive. Balloons, on the other hand, are very affordable and can be arranged in beautiful ways to make displays that are tasteful and eye-catching. Consider having a few balloon displays created to use at the wake instead of flowers to ensure that you stick to your budget as much as you can when planning the burial.

Choose to Spread the Ashes Rather Than Keep Them

Finally, do not invest in an urn for your loved one. Instead, have a funeral at your loved one's favorite place and spread their ashes, so that everyone can come back to that spot whenever they want. The mortician will put the ashes in a container that you can carry them in to take the spot where you want to spread them. This will save you more because you will not have to invest in an urn.

While it can be hard to plan a funeral for someone unexpectedly, going into debt to pay for their funeral could be even more devastating. Your family will appreciate the effort that you have gone to for your loved one and will be able to celebrate their life with you during the wake and while spreading the ashes.