Low-Cost Undertakers
As this is a consumer cost-saving website focusing on value with customer service, low-cost undertakers are listed.
What are low-cost funerals?
Funerals can be expensive, but there are ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality. One of the most effective ways to save on funeral expenses is by using a low-cost undertaker. Low-cost funerals are more affordable funeral services from low-cost undertakers, including direct cremation and burial without compromising on quality or dignity. By choosing a low-cost undertaker, you can save around 50%† on the cost of many other funerals.
How to find low-cost funerals
If searching for “low-cost funerals near me”, it’s important to obtain a written scale of costs. This will help you compare prices and ensure you get the best deal. Listed below are low-cost undertakers, and the areas they cover.
TDM Funeral Services covers South East England/Nationwide for cremations and burials.
BB Funerals: covers South East England and nationwide for cremations and burials.
The Funeral Market for direct cremation and other attended cremation services covering all of the UK and most islands (excluding Northern Ireland).
Farewill for a direct cremation service covering all of the UK (excluding Northern Ireland).
Mitchells Funerals for direct cremation, cremations, and burials covering southern Scotland – free funeral for 17 years and under.
Cremation Funeral for a direct cremation in England and Wales.
Fairer Funerals for direct cremation, cremations, and burials covering Lancashire, Greater Manchester and nearby surrounding areas.
Caledonia Cremation for a direct cremation covering mainland Scotland.
Direct Cremations Ireland for a direct cremation covering Northern Ireland.
A direct cremation funeral
A direct cremation is sometimes referred to as a cheap cremation funeral or cheap funeral. Importantly this does not mean that you will have a cheap funeral service, you will receive a fully dignified service at a low-cost.
Direct cremation is one of the most affordable cremation funeral options available. This type of funeral involves the collection of the deceased and later taken to the crematorium in a simple coffin. You can choose to have the ashes delivered to you or scattered Additional services such as a doctor’s certificate and having the ashes returned can be an extra cost.
If you’re interested in saving even more money, consider arranging the funeral service yourself. You can inform the undertaker that you will arrange for someone to carry out the service and that you will be supplying the coffin. However, if you have arranged a direct cremation or package, you may not be able to change the coffin.
An affordable funeral
In addition to choosing a low-cost undertaker, there are other ways to have an affordable funeral. For example, you could ask your guests to make their way to the crematorium or cemetery instead of hiring a limousine for close family and friends. This would mean that just a hearse is needed to transport the coffin.
Most undertakers, whether independent or not, can also arrange a spokesperson to carry out the service so that you do not have to. However, as is explained in Step 2, it will save money if you were to book the funeral spokesperson.
Searching for the cheapest funeral
When searching it is not always clear who are low-cost undertakers, who can provide the cheapest funeral.
Searching is often time-consuming and inaccurate. For these reasons and to help the reader, eight low-cost undertaker services are listed to avoid confusion.
A reception/wake is not quoted as standard costs from undertakers, as not all mourners would like one.
At this stage, when it comes to saving expenses, if you only use a low- cost undertaker and nothing more listed in the book, you would have already saved a large amount of money.
Sometimes the close family and friends travel in the limousine behind the hearse. You could also save more money by asking your guests to make their way to the crematorium or cemetery. Therefore, a limousine would not be needed, just a hearse for the coffin.
If, however you wish to save more money and put in a little more time then you could look into Steps 2, 3 and 4. These are informing the undertaker that you will arrange someone to carry out the service, that you will be supplying the coffin and organising the reception. If you have booked a direct cremation or package, then you may not be able to change the coffin.
Disbursements vary from different undertakers, so it is always best to get an emailed or written scale of costs.
Summary
When making inquiries, it’s advisable to ask for a written scale of costs. You can then be clear about the final amount if shopping around for the cheapest funeral cost. It can also save unnecessary telephone calls to the undertaker if you forget to ask or write something down when speaking to them.
Combining a low-cost undertaker and direct cremation is the best way of arranging a cheaper funeral.
† Save around 50% based on the SunLife Cost of Dying 2023 report, which states the average cost of a basic cremation was £3,673 in 2022. Low-cost TDM Funeral Services Simple Service £1941. This is a 47% difference.
Step 1: Low-Cost Funerals
Step 2: Funeral Service
Step 3: Coffin Prices
Step 4: Funeral Wake Ideas
Step 5: Home & Natural Burial
