Expensive funeral charges you can eliminate:

- Viewing	- Expensive grave liner
- Visitation	- Expensive headstone
- Embalming	- Opening and closing the grave
- Dressing	- Makeup
- Hearse	- Expensive sealer caskets

Talk to your family about what they would like in a funeral
Once you have a plan, make sure all your relatives have a copy
Carry a card with relatives phone numbers in case of your death or accident
If you decide on cremation, sign your permit ahead of time
Have a memorial service at a church, park, home or favorite place of the deceased
Have you or your family do most of the planning instead of the funeral home staff
Consider an inexpensive non sealing metal casket in 20 gauage steel
Donate the deceasd body to medicine
Consider immediate cremation and scattering ashes in a favorite spot
Consider an immediate burial with no embalming or viewing
Pay your final respects before the body is picked up to avoid having to pay for the veiwing
Use a low cost enclosure with the deceased's favorite personal effects and clothing
Contact your local memorial society (1-800-765-0107 national directory)
As always, shop several different mortuaries