There is a common held belief that cremation services are more affordable than funerals. Cremation is often referred to as the "low-cost" burial option. Although cremations are extremely affordable, you need to make sure that you understand and budget for each step of the cremation process. 

Factor #1: Transportation

After you pass away, your remains are going to need to be transported to the funeral home that will take care of your cremation. Your remains will have to be transported from wherever you are to the funeral home that you choose. If you are trying to plan your funeral and burial out in advance, you will need to look into the cost of transportation for your body. Many funeral homes include this service with their cremation packages; make sure that your package includes transportation for your body. 

If you plan on being buried out of state, such as in your hometown or at your family burial plot, you can save money by having your body cremated before it is transported to your final burial spot. It can be costly to transport a body across multiple states; it is much more affordable to complete the cremation process first. 

Factor #2: Storage

The next factor you need to take into consideration is the cost of storing your body before it is cremated. There are many different rules and choices that will affect the cost of storing your body.

To start with, most states require that your body be stored for one or two days following your death before it is cremated or embalmed. These types of rules are in place to ensure that if there is any suspicion around your death, an autopsy can be performed and the cause of your death can be found.

Since storage rules are standard for all bodies in your state, most funeral homes include this service in your cremation package. However, you should make sure this cost is included in your package. If it isn't, find out how much money your funeral home will charge for this service. 

Finally, if you have any medical devices inside of your body, such as a pacemaker, these medical devices will need to be removed from your body before it can be cremated. If you do have any medical devices, you can generally add that service onto your cremation package.

Factor #3: Placement

You also need to factor in where you want your cremated remains placed. The cost of urns can vary greatly, so it may be best to choose one yourself so that you can have more control over the cost. If you choose to have the remains buried at your local cemetery, you need to factor in that cost as well. You can control this cost by deciding what you what your remains stored in and what you want done with your remains after you pass.

Factor #4: Cremation

Finally, you need to factor in the actual cost of the cremation procedure. Many funeral homes allow you to lock-in a rate for this service, which allows you to adequately plan for this cost.

If you plan to be cremated when you pass away, make sure that your package includes transportation for your body as well as refrigeration costs until you can legally be cremated. If your plan does not include these extras, see how much your funeral home will charge for these services and set aside some extra money to take care of those costs. By planning in advance, your burial will go more smoothly for your family.