Guides
Guides
Plain-spoken, independent guides to funerals and cremation — what things cost, how to decide, and how to plan ahead, with sources you can check.
Cremation vs. burial: cost and how to decide
What each option really costs, what drives the price, and the handful of questions that usually settle it.
Read guideUpdated May 2026What a funeral really costs, line by line
A line-by-line walk through every charge on a funeral bill, with national ranges and where the money actually goes.
Read guideUpdated May 2026Direct cremation, explained
The simplest, lowest-cost option: what it includes, what it leaves out, and who it suits.
Read guideUpdated May 2026Planning a funeral ahead of time
What to record now so your family isn't guessing — and the real trade-offs of prepaying.
Read guideUpdated May 2026What happens at a Catholic funeral?
The vigil, the funeral Mass, and the rite of committal — and where cremation now fits.
Read guideUpdated May 2026Jewish funeral customs, explained
Prompt burial, taharah, a simple casket, and the mourning that follows — including shiva.
Read guideUpdated May 2026Muslim funeral rites, explained
Ghusl, kafan, the Janazah prayer, and prompt burial facing Mecca — the core Islamic rites.
Read guideUpdated May 2026Hindu funeral rites, explained
Antyesti, cremation, the mourning period, and immersing ashes in sacred water.
Read guideUpdated May 2026Veterans' funeral and burial benefits, explained
National cemetery burial, a headstone or marker, a burial flag, military honors, and allowances.
Read guideUpdated May 2026How prepaid (preneed) funeral plans work
How preneed money is held and protected, revocable vs. irrevocable, portability, and what to ask.
Read guideUpdated May 2026Green burial, explained
No embalming, a biodegradable casket or shroud, no vault — and how green cemeteries are certified.
Read guideUpdated May 2026How to pay for a funeral
Savings, burial insurance, preneed, crowdfunding, VA and Social Security help, county aid, and payment plans.
Read guideUpdated May 2026
These guides are for general information, not legal or financial advice. Prices are national ranges that vary by location and provider — always request an itemized price list.