Few things are as uncomfortable as thinking about one’s own death. No doubt, planning for it will look downright morbid to many. However, few things are also as necessary as planning your own funeral, so it’s really important to look beyond the fear and discomfort you may experience. Rather, it’s a good idea to take a step back, be pragmatic, and see it as simply another thing that needs doing in the course of one’s life.
 
Understand the why of it.
 
A big part of planning your own funeral — especially when you’re still on the fence about it (and understandably so) — is a firm understanding of why it needs to be done. There are actually several reasons. First, funerals have been known to cost quite a lot, and it’s a cost that continues to rise. Advance planning, however, will alleviate the burden of these costs on your family, making this a compelling reason to do so.
 
Another reason why you should consider advance funeral planning is how this all but guarantees your wishes will be carried out when you pass. Not only does this allow you to stay in control to the very end, but it will also lessen possible conflict among those you leave behind. After all, children will invariably grow up with different beliefs, which may not necessarily align with your lifelong ones, and this advance planning can be a way to effectively navigate all that.
 
Determine your wishes.
 
And speaking of wishes, you have to know what you want as you plan your funeral. The fact is, you’ll be surprised at just how many things there are to decide on as you plan your final resting place, so it can actually be a good idea to give it some thought while you’re able.
 
It’s more than wise to have a checklist handy as you pre-plan your funeral. This will cover everything from the kind of service you’ll want to have, whether you want to be buried or cremated, who should be your pallbearers — the list could go on and on. By extension, this will ensure that you don’t miss a single detail.
 
Put everything in writing.
 
Of course, you also have to make your wishes known because, otherwise, all your planning will be for naught. In most cases, you can ask your estate planning attorney to record this in your last will and testament or any such document, as well as any other related details like assigning a loved one to carry out your wishes for you. Alternatively, there are several apps and websites that you can use to document your funeral arrangements, as well. This is also a good option, as this makes it relatively easy for your family to find your final wishes when the time comes, which may not always be the case with a physical document.
 
Get the financial specifics out of the way.
 
Finally, ensure you have financial arrangements in place to cover the funeral plans that you’ve made. There are, in fact, several ways to go about this, such as setting aside a savings plan for it or even pre-paying directly at a funeral home. Insurance is, of course, a highly viable option.
 
One type of insurance that will certainly help in this regard is the aptly named burial insurance. The great thing about it is, not only will it cover your funeral arrangements, but it can also be used to pay off any financial obligations you may leave behind, like hospital bills or loans. If burial insurance is something that you’d like to go for, allow wiggle room for possible financial responsibilities, along with enough for your final wishes, as you decide on your amount of cover.
 
Suffice it to say, planning your own funeral is not something that you will take lightly and it certainly won’t be easy, so try to think of it as one last special gift to your loved ones. It’s the ultimate parting gift that you can give — not just to your family, but to yourself, too.