Funeral homes are very convenient when you are dealing with the death of a loved one. They often prepare the body for burial, provide the casket, plan the funeral service and even handle the obituary in your local paper. However, all of this can become very costly. The average funeral costs in 2010 averaged $6560. Arranging a funeral is hard enough without the added burden of finances. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the funeral costs of your loved one do not worry just yet. There are many ways you can save money if you choose to go with some alternatives that are not often considered.

Holding a funeral in your home can save you considerable money rather than using the services of a funeral home. However, you must make sure that this is legal in the state in which you reside. Taking a deceased body to your home is legal in all but five states. These states include Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Nebraska and New York. If you need assistance with planning an in-home funeral you can enlist the help of a specialist that deals with this type of service. These specialist are called death midwives.

Picking a Casket - You may save considerable money if you purchase a casket online. There is an array of options on the Internet so something will be available within your price range. Some families who choose to have an in-home funerals use cardboard caskets so they may personalize their loved ones casket with photos, script and more. This is a cheap alternative, however, when choosing your loved one's casket make sure you fulfill their wishes.

The Service - You can hold the service in any way you like that honors the life of the deceased. Many choose to incorporated slide shows or photo collages to honor the departed. You may have music provided by family or friends. You can have special speakers to talk about the life of your deceased loved one.

The Burial - Many may opt to go with the traditional burial in a cemetery, however keep in mind there are alternative options available. Sea burials are where your loved ones ashes are buried at sea. The ashes of your loved one may also be scattered among the land where they grew up. One lady asked for her ashes to be put in a roman candle and shot off into the air.

Alternative funeral services can save you a lot of money when you are on a tight budget. However, choosing an alternative funeral does not mean you are cheating your loved one out of the nice service they deserve. If you follow these tips for alternative funerals you should be able to have a very nice in-home funeral service for a reasonable cost.