Actively planning and paying for arrangements surrounding your own death may be a confronting exercise but planning your final send-off can have many benefits – both for you and your loved ones.

“First and foremost is that you will have peace of mind knowing that everything is taken care of financially,” says Salvos Funerals’ Melbourne Operations Manager, Megan Maxfield.

Many people do not wish to concern their families with planning and paying for their funerals at a time when they are experiencing a great loss. By ensuring this is taken care of, they can be rest assured that their family can focus on supporting one another through their grief.

“When somebody has entered into a prepaid funeral, it has meant that when the time comes, it ensures that the family don’t have to worry about making some really difficult decisions at such a challenging time, which can be incredibly overwhelming,” says Megan.

“It really does relieve pressure. I have spoken with many people who agree that it is the kindest thing that you can do for your family, so that the process is as stress-free as possible for them.”

Telling your own story

No one knows your life like you do, so it only makes sense that you have the final say around how your life is honoured.

“People prepay so that their wishes are granted, so if the person prefers to have a ‘no service, no attendance’ cremation with a memorial after, then this allows them the choice. Or, if they prefer a burial, rather than cremation, this also provides them with the choice and ensures that their wishes are followed through,” says Megan.

From significant milestones to treasured memories, photos to song choices, a prepaid funeral allows you to tell the story of your life with authenticity, allowing your voice to truly shine through the service.

With the benefit of time, prepaid funerals allow you to explore options and make decisions that are best for you and your family. It also takes the pressure off others trying to make decisions while in grief and ensures nothing important gets missed.

“When people enter into a prepaid contract, we will support them by assisting them with ‘pre-arranging’ their funeral,” says Megan.

“This involves supporting them through the process to help them make choices on the things to consider for their funeral such as music, flowers, prayers or poems, clergy or civil celebrant. This also means that special requests can be retained on file so they can be assured their wishes have been communicated.”

Prepaying is a good investment

Aside from the emotional benefits of a prepaid funeral, it is also financially beneficial. A prepaid funeral is locked in at the current price, meaning that if there are price rises in the industry, your contract will not be affected.

A future funeral at today’s prices is a good investment, and the ability to pay in installments means there’s no pressure to pay in full upfront.

But when paying for a funeral in advance, you’ll want guarantees your money is safe. This is why Salvos Funerals uses a third party to manage these funds. As at May 2022 Salvos Funerals is using Foresters Financial to ensure funds are secure. Foresters Financial have been investing for 170 years and is also regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (‘APRA’) to whom it must report on a quarterly basis. These measures ensure that your investment can only be used for its intended purpose – your funeral.

Peace of mind

The unexpected can happen any time, but for many over the age of 65 thoughts are turning to the task of ensuring they have made all necessary arrangements in the event of their death.

Megan says that the majority of enquiries for prepaid funerals are from women as they reach a point in their lives where they are less afraid to have these conversations.

“This is often spurred on after recently losing a loved one, causing them to think about their future and what it means for their family. They often want to reduce the stress for their loved ones and don’t want them to have to go through the experience they may have recently been through themselves.”

If you would like to discuss a prepaid funeral with Salvos Funerals, our compassionate and experienced team can provide expert advice and care every step of the way.

Reach out to our friendly team today.