If you've just lost a family member, a necessary task is planning their funeral. Traditional funerals can be pretty expensive, but a cheaper alternative is cremation. If you're considering this funeral option as a way to honor your loved one, these tips are important to remember. 

Assess Urn Options 

The great thing about cremation is you have the opportunity to keep the family member's ashes. To store them elegantly and safely, you'll need to choose an urn. There are many urn options available today. In terms of materials, glass and metal are high-quality options that look nice. 

Also think about what your family member may have wanted. They may have had a favorite brand or image that represented them, which you could get engraved on the urn. Or, you may want to customize the urn by incorporating their name and a special quote that has a lot of meaning. 

Work With a Funeral Home

Even though your loved one is not being buried in a casket, it's still nice to give them a funeral service. This way, friends and family members can pay their respects one final time. To ensure this funeral service goes smoothly from start to finish, you should work with a funeral home.

They'll take care of everything, from finding the perfect location to setting up chairs and refreshments for everyone in attendance. They'll make sure every detail is perfect, so that this somber ceremony isn't soon forgotten. Just make sure you check with the funeral home's rates so that you don't put yourself in a financial bind.

Choose an Ash-Scattering Location 

In addition to keeping the family member's ashes in an urn, you may wish to spread some around a special location. There are many great places worth considering, such as the loved one's favorite park, historical site, or even in the ocean.

When deciding on the right location, make sure it's legal to spread ashes in that area. Some places have strict regulations regarding this, and the last thing you want happening is to get in trouble with the law. Also think about what your entire family will want, as they may want to visit this place from time to time to pay their respects.

Cremation is a great way to honor a loved one who's passed on, especially if you're strapped for cash. Just make sure you plan extensively, and ultimately, think about what's best for the family member that's no longer with you.