Choosing a coffin can seem like an incredibly burdening task, especially when you’re still dealing with the loss of a loved one. Moreover, a coffin is not something you go out and buy every day so it’s very easy for most people to not know where to start.
However, buying a coffin is a crucial part of making funeral plans, and is more often than not, the single, largest purchase the funeral planning committee will make. But how do you separate emotions from rationale when buying a coffin for the dearly departed.
To help make the decision a lot less overbearing, we’ve created this list of four qualities you need to consider when looking at coffins for sale, like those from Titan Casket, for a loved one or even when pre-planning for yourself.
1. The Cost of the Coffin
The cost of the coffin is the first place you should start from. Sticking within a budget will prevent you from overspending and making a poor financial decision while in the midst of grieving.
Many people go for super fancy coffins just to show how much they loved the deceased.
All the same, you don’t want to just buy any casket. Try and ask yourself what your loved one was like? Were they a thrifty, practical person or did they have a taste for the finer things in life? If so, you can stretch your budget by a little bit but not so much that you’d inflate the final cost.
2. The Type of Coffin
The kind of coffin you go for is very important. It will also ultimately determine how much you spend. That said, metal and wood are the two most common materials used to make coffins.
A wooden coffin can be made of mahogany, oak, or maple. Other types of wood you can expect to find include walnut and pine which are also great choices.
Metal coffins, on the other hand, are made from copper, steel, and bronze. Steel coffins are a lot cheaper compared to copper or bronze since it’s not as durable. But the thicker the steel, the more costly it is.
3. Consider Its Interior
All coffins have a standard interior design with a cloth lining on the inside. Velvet and satin are the most common choices but you can choose to personalize it by going with a different material. You can also choose the deceased’s preferred color but people often go with either purple or white.
Adding embroidered symbols on the interior is another great way of adding a personal touch.
4. Are There Any Special Features
Apart from personalizing the coffin, you can also add special features to honor the memory of the departed.
For instance, memory drawers for placing mementos or messages. You can also choose to have a memory tube installed which helps with identification in cases of accidents after internment.
The Bottom Line
Buying a coffin for your loved one is not an easy thing to do. But whatever choice you make, do not buy a coffin until you are 100% sure you are making the right decision. Ask a lot of questions, ask a relative or friend to accompany you, and consider the tips listed above to make a wise choice.