– CREMATION PLANS

Direct Cremation Myth: 2024 Report Shows We Still Want Tradition 

Benjamin Treharne-Foose – November 2024

It’s Not About Us… It’s About Them

If you believe the adverts plastered all over telly, ‘no fuss’ direct cremations seem to be what everyone wants these days, but here’s what companies spending millions on advertising every month don’t tell you. 

The truth is… 

76% of funerals in the UK still include a service.*   

And really, it’s no surprise. Ritual is powerful, especially when dealing with loss.  

For thousands of years, across every civilisation, people have celebrated life through ceremonies and traditions to help us make sense of it all. 

Having a service, led by a minister or celebrant, a compassionate expert who provides support, can have an incredible impact on bereaved family and friends at an already difficult time.   

Our traditions are important, and it’s comforting to have someone there who can guide us. 

If Traditions Are Important, Why Are People Abandoning Them?

Last year, the average UK funeral cost £4,141 (an increase of 4.7% from the previous year)* 

While prices dipped for a couple years, likely influenced by the pandemic, the longer trend shows funeral costs have more than doubled over the last 20 years. 

Since 2004, costs have soared by 126%, and experts predict even basic funeral expenses could exceed £5,125 by 2028.3* 

These price rises may be forcing many to believe Direct Cremation is their only choice.

But at what cost?

Traditions Support the Grief Process 

Grief is complex, it needs more than just logistics.  

While direct cremations offer perceived cost savings, many who experience them feel something is missing.  

Traditions and ceremonies have long helped families navigate grief, offering a way to honour their loved ones respectfully. Having the support of a minister or celebrant can ease the burden on family members who may already be feeling overwhelmed. 

Thankfully, there is a way to cut costs, protect against funeral inflation, and keep our traditions. 

There’s a Better Way!

Direct Cremation with a Service  

(Still 29% Cheaper) *  

The Avalon ‘Celebration Plan’ blends a low-cost cremation with the added support of a traditional service at the crematorium. A service led by a minister or celebrant who knows how to guide families through a sendoff. All for 29% less than the average basic funeral.*

Created specifically to offer a middle ground between a direct cremation and a full-service funeral, the ‘Celebration Plan’ caters to families who want simplicity, cost savings, and a funeral service. 

How are we able to offer a funeral service and still provide significant savings?  

Using a couple of clever loopholes, like specifying a time and day when the service will take place, we guarantee to cover the cost of your cremation, the minister or celebrant fees, and the funeral director’s fees… no matter how high prices rise in the future. 

And… 

Yes, your family will receive a personalised service at a local crematorium at a specific time agreed in your plan.  

This means your family will have less to worry about, regardless of when your plan is needed. You can rest assured knowing they won’t be left alone to figure it all out by themselves.  

A balance between affordability and tradition. 

Avalon’s ‘Celebration Plan’ Gives Your Family:

✔ The cost savings of a direct cremation 

…but also includes: 

✔ Fully guaranteed cremation & funeral director fees

✔ A personalised service at a local crematorium at a set time 

✔ Support of a minister or celebrant 

✔ A solid oak urn with name plate 

✔ Creation of a premium memory book 

✔ Extra protection with the ‘Avalon Promise’ 

…all this guaranteed for £2945 or less than £29/month* 

Full payment illustration for £29 is available at the end of this article.  

+PLUS… Protection From A Funeral Cost Explosion 

Given the cost of living in 2024, it’s even Remember, a basic funeral is forecast to cost more than £5,125 by 2028, which is why it’s even more important to lock in the cost today with a plan that won’t increase in the future. The price of your plan will never change. *

+ PLUS… You’re Covered Immediately* 

From day 1, you’re fully covered if you pay in full. If you choose to pay for your funeral plan in instalments, you’re covered by the ‘Avalon Promise’, where Avalon will still provide all the services included in your plan if you pass away before your plan is fully paid if: 

•     You die as a result of an accident at any time 

•     Your plan has been in place for 12 months for a UK plan  

This means your loved ones won’t have to make up the difference for the cost of the services in the plan and can focus on celebrating your life, instead of worrying about finding the money to pay for your funeral. * It’s all covered. 

Step 1) Select your age below

Step 2) On the next page, complete the 30-second questionnaire, and find out whether you could save hundreds or thousands.

Still Not Sure? Did You Know…

Avalon Funeral Plans has…

• Helped more than 100,000 people find the right funeral plan.
• Supported families for more than 31 years.
• Once again been voted ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ for the 5th year in a row at the Personal Finance Awards.
• Rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with a rating of 4.9.

Don’t let this moment pass you by…

In just a few seconds you could be on your way to peace of mind for you and your family.

* We’re Proud To Evidence All Our Claims: 

This page is provided by way of information only, and the legal terms and conditions that apply to any funeral plan will be set out in the Terms & Conditions and The Funeral Plan Summary for each plan which can be found here.  

• Percentage of ‘funerals with a service’ taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/ 

• Current cost of funerals taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/ 

• Projection of funeral costs in 2028 taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/ 

• ’29% Cheaper’ – For the purchase of the Avalon Celebration Plan (Plan price £2945) which is 29% less than the average cost of a funeral (£4,141) according to SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/  

• Avalon’s Celebration Plan provides a personalised service at a local crematorium to commence between the hours of 9am and 11am on a weekday (Monday-Friday). For full Terms & Conditions, visit https://avalonfuneralplans.com/uk-funeral-plans/celebration-funeral-plan/  

• ‘Avalon Promise’ – The Avalon Promise commences if you die as a result of an accident at anytime or if you pass away before your plan is fully paid after your plan has been in place for 12 months or more in the UK and 18 months or more for one of our Europe plans. If you don’t keep up your payments your plan may be cancelled. Full details of the Avalon Promise can be found in the UK plan Terms and Conditions 

• ‘Less than £29 per month’ – For the purchase of the Celebration Plan (GB) (Plan price £2945) and if  you pay a £60 deposit. If you choose a 15-year term, you will pay an instalment charge of £2250.30 on top of the plan price leaving a total payable of £5195.30 – which is £28.53 for 180 months. However, if you opt for a 3-year term, the instalment charge would be £450.06 – which is £96.81 for 36 months.  

• Paying a larger deposit and paying off your plan in fewer years is generally cheaper, and you can reduce the term at any time to lower the instalment charge.   

• ‘Rated Excellent’ claim is based on a 4.9/5 rating on Trustpilot with more than 3,900 reviews and having supported more than 105,000 families over the last 30+ years.   

• Avalon has been awarded ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ at the Personal Finance Awards in the UK every year between 2019-2023. 

– CREMATION PLANS

Direct Cremation Myth: 2024 Report Shows We Still Want Tradition 

Benjamin Treharne-Foose – November 2024

It’s Not About Us… It’s About Them

If you believe the adverts plastered all over telly, ‘no fuss’ direct cremations seem to be what everyone wants these days, but here’s what companies spending millions on advertising every month don’t tell you. 

The truth is… 

76% of funerals in the UK still include a service.*   

And really, it’s no surprise. Ritual is powerful, especially when dealing with loss.  

For thousands of years, across every civilisation, people have celebrated life through ceremonies and traditions to help us make sense of it all. 

Having a service, led by a minister or celebrant, a compassionate expert who provides support, can have an incredible impact on bereaved family and friends at an already difficult time.   

Our traditions are important, and it’s comforting to have someone there who can guide us. 

If Traditions Are Important, Why Are People Abandoning Them? 

Last year, the average UK funeral cost £4,141 (an increase of 4.7% from the previous year)* 

While prices dipped for a couple years, likely influenced by the pandemic, the longer trend shows funeral costs have more than doubled over the last 20 years. 

Since 2004, costs have soared by 126%, and experts predict even basic funeral expenses could exceed £5,125 by 2028.* 

These price rises may be forcing many to believe Direct Cremation is their only choice.  

But at what cost? 

Traditions Support the Grief Process 

Grief is complex, it needs more than just logistics.  While direct cremations offer perceived cost savings, many who experience them feel something is missing.  

Traditions and ceremonies have long helped families navigate grief, offering a way to honour their loved ones appropriately and respectfully. The support of a minister or celebrant can ease the burden on family members who may be already feeling overwhelmed. 

Thankfully, there is a way to cut costs, protect against funeral inflation, AND keep our traditions. 

There’s a Better Way!

Direct Cremation With a Service

(Still 29% Cheaper)*

The Avalon ‘Celebration Plan’ blends a low-cost cremation with the added support of a traditional service at the crematorium. Led by a minister or celebrant who knows how to guide families through a sendoff. All for 29% less than the average basic funeral.* 

How are we able to offer a funeral service and still provide significant savings?  

Using a couple of clever loopholes, like specifying a time and day when the service will take place, we guarantee to cover the cost of your cremation, the minister or celebrant fees, and the funeral director’s fees… no matter how high prices rise in the future. 

And… 

Yes, your family will receive a personalised service at a local crematorium at a specific time agreed in your plan.  

This means your family will have less to worry about, regardless of when your plan is needed. You can rest assured knowing they won’t be left alone to figure it all out by themselves.  

A balance between affordability and tradition. 

Avalon’s ‘Celebration Plan’ Gives Your Family:

✔ The cost savings of a direct cremation 

…but also includes: 

✔ Fully guaranteed cremation & funeral director fees

✔ A personalised service at a local crematorium at a set time 

✔ Support of a minister or celebrant 

✔ A solid oak urn with name plate 

✔ Creation of a premium memory book 

✔ Extra protection with the ‘Avalon Promise’ 

…all this guaranteed for £2945 or less than £29/month*

Full payment illustration for £29 is available at the end of this article.    

+ PLUS… Protection From A Funeral Cost Explosion 

Remember, a basic funeral is forecast to cost more than £5,125 by 2028, which is why it’s even more important to lock in the cost today with a plan that won’t increase in the future.

The price of your plan will never change.

+ PLUS… You’re Covered Immediately* 

From day 1, you’re fully covered if you pay in full. Even if you choose to pay for your funeral plan in instalments, you’re covered by the ‘Avalon Promise’, where Avalon will still provide all the services included in your plan if you pass away before your plan is fully paid if: 

•     You die as a result of an accident at any time 

•     Your plan has been in place for 12 months for a UK plan  

This means your loved ones won’t have to make up the difference for the cost of the services in the plan. They can focus on celebrating your life, instead of worrying about finding the money to pay for your funeral.*  It’s all covered. 

Step 1) Select your age below

Step 2) On the next page, complete the 30-second questionnaire, and find out whether you could save hundreds or thousands.

Still Not Sure? Did You Know…

Avalon Funeral Plans has…

• Helped more than 100,000 people find the right funeral plan.
• Supported families for more than 31 years.
• Once again been voted ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ for the 5th year in a row at the Personal Finance Awards.
• Rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with a rating of 4.9.

Don’t let this moment pass you by…

In just a few seconds you could be on your way to peace of mind for you and your family.

* We Proudly Evidence All Our Claims: 

This page is provided by way of information only, and the legal terms and conditions that apply to any funeral plan will be set out in the Terms & Conditions and The Funeral Plan Summary for each plan which can be found here.  

• Percentage of ‘funerals with a service’ taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/ 

• Current cost of funerals taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/ 

• Projection of funeral costs in 2028 taken from SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/ 

• ’29% Cheaper’ – For the purchase of the Avalon Celebration Plan (Plan price £2945) which is 29% less than the average cost of a funeral (£4,141) according to SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report 2024 https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs/  

• Avalon’s Celebration Plan provides a personalised service at a local crematorium to commence between the hours of 9am and 11am on a weekday (Monday-Friday). For full Terms & Conditions, visit https://avalonfuneralplans.com/uk-funeral-plans/celebration-funeral-plan/ 

• ‘Avalon Promise’ – The Avalon Promise commences if you die as a result of an accident at anytime or if you pass away before your plan is fully paid after your plan has been in place for 12 months or more in the UK and 18 months or more for one of our Europe plans. If you don’t keep up your payments your plan may be cancelled. Full details of the Avalon Promise can be found in the UK plan Terms and Conditions 

• ‘Less than £29 per month’ – For the purchase of the Celebration Plan (GB) (Plan price £2945) and if  you pay a £60 deposit. If you choose a 15-year term, you will pay an instalment charge of £2250.30 on top of the plan price leaving a total payable of £5195.30 – which is £28.53 for 180 months. However, if you opt for a 3-year term, the instalment charge would be £450.06 – which is £96.81 for 36 months.  

• Paying a larger deposit and paying off your plan in fewer years is generally cheaper, and you can reduce the term at any time to lower the instalment charge.   

• ‘Rated Excellent’ claim is based on a 4.9/5 rating on Trustpilot with more than 3,900 reviews and having supported more than 105,000 families over the last 30+ years.   

• Avalon has been awarded ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ at the Personal Finance Awards in the UK every year between 2019-2023. 

Avalon Europe

+34 966 799 070

Avalon Funeral Plans,
Calle Albatera 1-68, Urb La Finca Golf, 03169 Algorfa, Alicante. Spain.