Homesteaders Blog

How to Choose Between Burial and Cremation: Key Factors to Consider

When planning a funeral — whether it’s preneed or at-need — one of the many decisions you’ll face is whether to choose burial or cremation. While other methods of final disposition exist, like donation to science, natural organic reduction or entombment, burial and cremation remain the most common choices. Personal values and beliefs often shape this choice, however, emotional, financial and cultural considerations also play an important role. In this blog post, we’ll break down the main differences and key considerations to help you choose with confidence.

The Role of a Funeral Professional: What to Expect When Preplanning

Preplanning a funeral might feel intimidating at first, but it’s a powerful way to ensure your final wishes are clearly documented and your loved ones are spared unnecessary stress. At the heart of this process is a funeral professional — often a funeral director or a preneed counselor who specializes in advance funeral planning. They offer compassionate care combined with expertise in funeral service options, serving as a trusted guide through one of life’s most emotional and personal decisions.

Supporting Families Through Away-From-Home Protection

Funeral planning brings peace of mind for families, knowing they’ve made decisions that will ease the burden for their loved ones. But one part of the conversation is sometimes overlooked: What happens if death occurs away from home?

What Is Burial Insurance?

Planning for end-of-life expenses isn’t something most of us want to think about — but taking steps now can save your loved ones from added stress and financial strain later. Burial insurance is a simple and affordable way to ensure that essential costs like funeral services, burial fees or outstanding bills are covered when the time comes. In this post, we’ll walk through what burial insurance is, how it works and how it compares to other planning options like preneed insurance — so you can make a confident, informed decision that brings peace of mind to you and your family.

The Essential Documents You Need for End-of-Life Planning

End-of-life planning is a practical way to support the people you care about. When you take the time to organize key documents and personal information, you’re making it easier for your loved ones to honor your wishes and manage important details with confidence. 

From legal paperwork to financial records and personal contacts, here’s a comprehensive look at what you need to prepare — and why it matters. 

How to Help Families Manage Personal Belongings After Death

When someone passes away, the emotional toll is often compounded by the practical realities of dealing with their belongings. Whether families are faced with removing items from a house after death or trying to navigate what happens to someone’s personal belongings without a will, managing this part of the estate can be overwhelming. Helping families plan ahead, or guiding them through the process, can make a difficult time a little easier.

This post offers thoughtful resources and practical advice for helping families manage personal belongings after death, with or without a will, as well as strategies to plan ahead with clarity and care.

What Is Preneed Insurance?

Insurance can be a complicated topic, full of technical jargon and legal language — perhaps you’ve found the same confusion with preneed insurance. If you’ve arrived at this post searching for information about preneed insurance in simple, straightforward terms, you’ve come to the right place. From the insurance definition to how to get started with your own funeral plans, we hope to clear up the process so you feel confident navigating your preneed journey.

Why It’s Normal to Feel Hesitant About Funeral Preplanning

If the idea of planning your funeral or a loved one’s makes you feel uneasy, you’re definitely not alone. That nervous feeling usually comes from a place of love and wanting to protect your family, even if the topic feels heavy.

It’s okay to feel unsure. Many people do. In the U.S., we don’t always know how to talk about death, and it’s easy to let fear or even superstition take over. Some think that talking about death will “jinx” things, while others may get overwhelmed before they even start.

Discussing Funeral Costs: How to Prepare Your Family for Your Passing

While no amount of planning will fully prepare your loved ones for all that comes after your passing, there are some ways you can help ease the pain and difficulty of that challenging time. Among them, having a conversation with your family about your funeral and the associated costs is important for many reasons, which we’ve outlined below. But first, let’s start with the basics.

How to Plan A Funeral

Planning a funeral is never easy — especially when you're navigating through the fog of grief. Whether you're honoring a loved one who has just passed or preparing for the future with intention, funeral planning is about more than logistics. It's about honoring a life, supporting family and friends and creating space for remembrance and healing. 

This step-by-step guide walks you through each part of the process, helping you make thoughtful decisions with confidence and compassion.