Exceeding $5,000: Soaring funeral costs force Britons to borrow money

 

Funerals in Britain

Exceeding $5,000: Soaring funeral costs force Britons to borrow money

Bereaved families in the UK are finding it increasingly difficult to cover funeral expenses.

A simple funeral costs an average of £3,828, while a traditional funeral costs £4,510, according to a study by SunLife that tracked funeral costs over 22 years.

Additional costs such as memorials, flowers, and catering services bring the total expenditure to £5,140 for simple funerals and £5,822 for traditional funerals.

The report indicates that 15% of families face a funding shortfall of up to £2,365, forcing them to rely on their savings or pay the amount in installments, while 12% resorted to crowdfunding to cover costs, a notable increase from 6% in 2024. 8% were also forced to borrow from unlicensed lenders to provide the necessary funds.

The price differences between regions are striking; London is the most expensive city for a simple funeral, averaging £4,987, followed by the East and West Midlands, while Northern Ireland and parts of the North East of England have the lowest prices. Funeral directors attribute the high costs to coffins, burial fees, and staff, as well as the fact that the prices of basic mourning services have risen at a rate exceeding inflation.

Families are trying to reduce expenses by avoiding luxuries such as limousines, holding funerals at home, or reducing flowers and food. Some are also using credit cards or borrowing from friends.

Experts stress the importance of planning the funeral in advance and discussing wishes with the family to ease the financial and emotional burden, explaining that knowing preferences can save an average of £335, and also helps prevent disputes and ensure a proper farewell for loved ones.

Projections indicate that funeral costs could rise by another 17% between 2025 and 2030, making advance financial planning essential to cope with heightened economic pressures during times of grief and loss.