Shopping around for a cut-price funeral - surely not in the uk?

For most of us it is only when a relative or friend dies, that we have to look at the cost of funerals. In our British culture, death is not something we like to talk about, but if we did we would be better prepared for planning the sort of funeral we want, at a price we could afford, and we could sort out how we pay for it. Shopping around, on the net or locally for an affordable funeral is not seen as a very nice thing to do? However many older people in particular do worry about it, and could save a lot of money, if they wished to. Pre-paid funeral do not always cover what people thing they do. This petition is about the horrendous cost of funerals and what can be done about it. I checked out the cost of a funeral in my area. I was quoted a price of “A Basic Traditional Service”, with a minister or priest of £2,465. This price included - The funeral directors fees for preparing the body, storing it and a Hearse and one car, for 7 people. Then I discovered costs for things I wanted that were not included e.g. £600 for a cremation, £150 for a Humanists or non-religious celebrant to lead the service, bringing the total to £3,215. If I wanted a burial using an existing grave that would add at least £1,200 and a new grave £2,000 or more. So the basic cost was now between £4,415 - £5,215 ouch! Then a friend told me what they paid last week for a similar basic funeral, for a relative, using the same company. That funeral cost included; £900 funeral directors fees, a simple coffin, services of a priest/minister, cremation £500, flowers and 50 service leaflets, the burying of ashes and two cars came to £4,100. With a £100 discount if paid in cash??? I noted that the cremation costs were at the same crematorium and was £100 less and the cash discount of 2.5% was £100? Hm! does the tax man know about that arrangement? So it does seem that funeral costs could be reduced if we dared to shop around. In the uk anyone can organise a funeral, you do not need a license. As funerals for many of us are becoming unaffordable, we could decide a DIY funeral is the answer! The cheapest cardboard coffin I found was £119 and in wood it was £588. The woodland burial plot at £1,400 seems to be a real bargain. If anyone knows of other Best Buy's please share it with us all. The high costs of funerals really could be addressed, if we the public, dare to make different choices than the local undertaker. If you really do want the cost of funerals to reduce, please support this petition and tell all your friends too.