Cash-strapped families dealing with the loss of a loved one are resorting to loan sharks or crowdfunding to cover the expenses of funerals, according to a recent report. One individual shared his experience of having to crowdfund his own brother’s funeral due to financial constraints.
Research has shown that the average cost of a traditional funeral attended by mourners surged by 5.3% to £4,510 last year, marking the most significant annual increase since 2016. A survey revealed that 15% of individuals who have arranged funerals in recent times faced significant financial challenges during payment. Of those encountering financial difficulties, approximately 12% resorted to crowdfunding, while 8% borrowed money from unregulated lenders like loan sharks.
The escalating costs are attributed to rising cremation and burial fees, increased prices of coffins, and growing living expenses, as highlighted in a report by SunLife. Against this backdrop, a young man grieving the sudden loss of his brother is fundraising for the funeral expenses.
Max Hughes, a sales consultant, is raising funds for his 20-year-old brother Karl-Frederick, who tragically passed away after a severe epileptic seizure and cardiac arrest. A portion of the £10,000 target on GoFundMe has been collected for Karl-Frederick’s funeral services. Max shared that their family, including their teacher mother and 28-year-old sister in Sheffield, lives paycheck to paycheck.
Max emphasized the financial strain, stating that a regular working individual should be able to afford the burial of a loved one, especially at a young age like 20. The unexpected costs have added to the emotional burden of losing a family member.
Describing his brother, Max fondly remembered Karl as caring, kind, and humorous, always brightening up any room he entered. The family is aiming to gather £10,000 for the funeral expenses, which they estimate to be at least £7,500, not including additional costs like a headstone and the wake to celebrate Karl-Frederick’s life.
Lindesay Mace, co-manager of the charity Quaker Social Action’s funeral poverty service Down to Earth, emphasized the psychological toll of struggling to finance a funeral, leading to adverse effects on individuals’ well-being and grieving process.
Overall, the research conducted with funeral directors and individuals involved in funeral arrangements over the past four years highlighted the ongoing challenges families face in covering the increasing costs of funerals. Mark Screeton, the CEO of SunLife, emphasized the continuous rise in funeral expenses, outpacing the financial capabilities of many families.