PowerSwitch

[frank_begbie]

Good idea or a waste of money?

I know its a good idea to pay now, while its "cheaper", but what about in a few years when burial/cremation may no longer be able to take place?
_________________
"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."

[jonny2mad]

paying for anything now and expecting it in the future depends on a functioning financial system.

You could get a coffin now if you have somewhere to store it and get a good spade pick and shovel, digging a grave isn't that hard, making a coffin isn't that hard.
_________________
"What causes more suffering in the world than the stupidity of the compassionate?"Friedrich Nietzsche

optimism is cowardice oswald spengler

[woodburner]

Do you need a coffin? Waste of wood IMO.

[jonny2mad]

I don't see the point in burial when there are dogs or pigs
_________________
"What causes more suffering in the world than the stupidity of the compassionate?"Friedrich Nietzsche

optimism is cowardice oswald spengler

[adam2]

I would advise against paying in advance for ones own funeral if below retirement age and in fair health.

The idea is popular with the elderly who fear that funeral expenses will be a burden on their family.
It has some merit for those who fear that they dont have long to live, and has no doubt saved some people a lot of worry.

In the longer term, for those who hope to live for many years I advise against pre paid funerals. The more years that pass, the greater the risk of the scheme failing due to general financial crashes, losses, failures etc.
Although the schemes are generally said to be "insurance backed" I would doubt the long term solvency of even large and respected insurance firms.
Some schemes might even turn out to be ponzi schemes, without any actual assets, that rely on more joining to pay for existing members that die.

In the event of TEOTWAWKI then formal funerals are unlikely to be a high priority, and (hopefully) hygienic and respectful improvisation will be the order of the day.
_________________
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"

[frank_begbie]

I'm currently looking into leaving my body to medical research.

Couple of drawbacks though.

They won't take your body on Bank Holidays
Also they may hang on to your body for up to 3 years

http://www.hta.gov.uk/bodyorganandtissuedonation/howtodonateyourbody.cfm
_________________
"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot."

[RenewableCandy]

I don't think my body'll be much use for medical research. It won't even be that much use in a J2M scenario. And, what with traffic, I'm almost certain to die on a Bank Holiday.
_________________
Soyez réaliste. Demandez l’impossible.
Space and Spaceability
The Year-Long Lunch Break

[RalphW]

I'm planning on a 'green' burial in a cardboard or wicker casket, preferably under a tree.

As I don't expect the financial system to last until my retirement age (in fact I don't expect a pension at all) I think paying up front is a bit of a waste.

[biffvernon]

I want to be buried below the water table so that I don't rot. It will be a final act of carbon sequestration.
_________________
http://www.transitiontownlouth.org.uk

[Kentucky Fried Panda]

Burial at sea, a canvas bag and an old anchor chain, but live the wrong kind of life and it'll be concrete shoe time before you know it.
_________________
amat victoria curam

[RenewableCandy]

Where are they going to get the concrete from?
_________________
Soyez réaliste. Demandez l’impossible.
Space and Spaceability
The Year-Long Lunch Break

[woodburner]

[MisterE]

http://www.coffincompany.co.uk/cardboard-coffin

That will keep the cost down and have someone bury you down the garden Happy days.
_________________
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." — Thomas Edison, 1931

[JohnB]

[woodburner]