Arranging a Low-Cost Cremation

A low-cost cremation, more popularly known today as a ‘direct cremation’, is one of the cheapest cremations available in the UK. It’s a type of funeral that focuses on being concise and cost-effective above most other things. Despite that, they are just as dignified and respectful as a traditional funeral.

Usually they take place without any mourners present, or any of the usual formal elements we tend to associate with funerals, such as hearses, floral tributes with the name of the person who has died, or a funeral procession.

• the cost of living has been rising, making a big impact on our ability to pay for the typical elements of a traditional funeral ceremony;
• the COVID restrictions on attending funerals have had a lasting impact on what we expect from funeral formats;
• and we are not as religious as we used to be, with only 33% of the UK population now actively identifying as religious, according to a 2022 study by King’s College London.

It looks like the changes in the UK funeral landscape are here to stay. We will now take a closer look at the concept of a low-cost cremation, providing guidance on arranging a low-cost cremation, and on what support is available out there when it comes to paying for things.

The Affordability of Direct Cremation

At Aura, we know just how heavily paying for the cost of a funeral can weigh, whether that’s a funeral for a loved one needed immediately, or a plan for your own funeral in the future.

The SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2024 puts the average cost of a funeral in the UK in 2023 at £4,141. They also point out that, between 2004 and 2024, funeral prices have risen by 126%, far above the general consumer price inflation of 72% in the same period.

It’s not surprising that many people see a low-cost, direct cremation as a way out of this predicament. At £1,595, we’re proud to offer direct cremation funeral plans that start at less than half the price of the average UK funeral. With Aura, you can benefit from more affordable prices without having to compromise on quality.

Arranging a low-cost cremation

The best way to make organising a funeral easier, whether a low-cost cremation or otherwise, is to break the process down into individual steps.

Understanding the cremation process

With an Aura simple cremation, once we’re notified that a death has occurred, we bring that person into our care as swiftly as possible, making sure that, until the day of the cremation, they are resting in state-of-the-art mortuary facilities. On the cremation day, we bring them to the crematorium from where they are resting in a private ambulance.

The cremation itself occurs very shortly after the ceremony, and takes between one and three hours. Within 21 days of the cremation, we hand-deliver the ashes back to the family of the deceased at no extra cost for plan-holders (there is a nominal fee for those without a funeral plan), or we scatter them in the crematorium’s peace garden, in line with their wishes.

Working out your wishes

It’s important to take the time to think about what you’d like out of your funeral: do you want guests to attend? If so, how many? Or would you rather that your cremation is completely unattended and understated? What sort of music would you like?  The answer to these questions will help to determine the kind of service that will be delivered, as well as the price you’ll pay.

Different providers allow for the attendance of guests, even at a cheap cremation. If you’re struggling to decide on the best thing for you, why not try broaching the subject with friends or family, to see if they can help?

Find the right provider for you

Once you’ve figured out the kind of funeral you are looking for, the next thing you may want to think about is finding a provider that is a good match for you. It’s always important to bear in mind that each provider is different, and they may offer different types of plan, all including different things.

As recommended by Money Saving Expert, if you’re opting for a prepaid funeral plan, make sure you understand what’s included in the price you’re paying. That way you can be sure you’re getting the lowest possible cost for your cremation.

Decide on the best way to pay

There are different ways of paying for funerals. If you are organising one for someone who has died recently, usually the funeral needs to be paid in one transaction. But if you are getting your own end-of-life plans in place, there are other options available, such as a prepaid funeral plan, or over-50s life insurance.

With one of Aura’s cheap cremation plans, you can pay for your simple cremation in advance, choosing to pay in a lump sum, or in 12-to-24 monthly instalments. We don’t charge you a different price should you decide to split the payments; it’s always the same final cost, which means that you can choose what to do without any pressure.

How to get Help with Cremation Costs

Many types of funeral can be expensive, even the ones we are calling “cheap cremations”. The thought of having to pay a large bill for funeral expenses can bring a lot of stress into the lives of any family. Besides looking for cheap cremation plans, or providers with reasonable prices, for those in need there is extra support from the public sector, and from charities.

The British government has two specific schemes for families struggling with funeral expenses: The Bereavement Support Payment and The Funeral Expenses Payment. Did you know that it may also be possible, if your loved one has died, to access money in their bank or building society account, if you need it to pay for funeral expenses? This can be done through the Grant of Probate scheme, and can be a big help for families where the main earner has passed away.

There are also charities in the UK that provide all kinds of bereavement-related support.

Additional low-cost cremation services

Whether you’re looking for a simple, low-cost direct cremation without any mourners present, or a fully attended option at a local crematorium, Aura has an option that could work for you. We currently have three different, 5-star-rated prepaid funeral plans for cheap cremations available:

If there are any questions that you’d like to ask our team, we’d be more than happy to receive your phone call; you can give us a call on 0800 066 3346, or you can simply request a free quote on our website.