The quiet way to show you care. Why funeral planning matters
When we think about love with family and friends, it’s the small moments we remember: a shared cup of coffee to start the day, family jokes and spending time together. Love is shown in the way we take care of each other, in everyday actions and in the quiet ways we support each other in the long-term.
However, while we often think about future planning as a way of creating security for our loved ones, one piece we often miss is planning our final farewell, a gesture of love that can truly help family when they need it most.
Planning your funeral is an expression of love and care, but it’s often overlooked or considered a morbid topic to avoid. Just like making a will or saving for your children’s future, it’s a responsible part of future planning that reduces stress and financial pressures for those closest to you at a deeply emotional time. A funeral plan makes sure you have the final farewell you want and gives your family the gift of knowing they have honoured your final wishes, without worrying they’ve missed something important.
Your farewell, your way
Creating a personal and meaningful funeral isn’t about grand gestures and expensive arrangements. It’s about celebrating the small details that tell your story and the impact you’ve made in a life well lived. If you plan your own funeral, would you prioritise flower arrangements or playing your favourite happy song as people arrive? Would you prefer readings and poetry, or to ask close friends to speak about the connection you had?
Planning ahead gives you time to consider every element of your funeral properly, while you’re clearheaded. By choosing now, you can identify what matters most, and family won’t need to guess or worry if they’ve got it right. Taking this uncertainty away and giving them confidence that they’re doing what you want is a genuine act of love.
Financial security for the future
As parents and as partners, at some point we start to think about our future. Saving for retirement, inheritance planning, or considering health insurance all quietly create security for our loved ones and take future worries away. Funeral planning is something we know will happen, but no one wants to talk about.
When the time comes, arranging a funeral while grieving is one of the hardest things your family may ever face. They’re processing their loss while trying to make dozens of decisions – and emotional decisions can lead to spending a lot more than you might have wanted on grand gestures.
While the average cost of a traditional funeral today is £4,510*, there are more affordable options. Traditional funerals include elements such as limousines and mid-range coffins, which increase the price. A funeral plan allows you to specify the type of funeral you want, including a simple funeral service without costly additions, or a direct cremation that gives your family the freedom to remember you in their own way.
Whichever you choose, paying in advance means the essential elements of the funeral are taken care of, and your family won’t face a potentially unexpected expense later. And, if they choose to add their own touches, such as flowers or memorials, they can still do so.
*SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs
A quiet gift of love
Planning your funeral may not be the most comfortable conversation, but it is an act of kindness for your loved ones. It shows that you understand what they’ll be going through, and you’re easing the emotional pressure of decision-making, as well as the financial pressure that comes from funeral planning.
It’s a quiet gesture, but one that is made from a place of love – another way of protecting and caring for your family after you’re gone.
A simple way to protect your family
Setting up a plan is easy. You can buy a plan online or, if you prefer to talk through the options with an expert, by calling our caring team on 01543 211997.
We have two simple plans - A Direct Cremation Plan, starting from £1,999, and a Funeral Service Plan from £2,499 - and to make it affordable for everyone, payment options are available.
A Distinct Cremations funeral plan includes every service needed, guaranteed, with prices fixed against any future increases.
- Collection and caring for the deceased
- Transfer to the crematorium
- Hand-delivered return or scattering of the ashes
You can be confident your money is safely protected.. And, if you want a funeral service plan, you can choose any of our 42 crematoriums.
Buying your funeral plan now is a simple process that prevents worry for you now, and for your loved ones later. If you have any questions at all, our team are happy to help without any hard sell.
