Going through the process of pre-planning your funeral arrangements is a considerate gift you can leave your family upon your death. Already struggling with grief, your family members will find peace knowing that your precise wishes will be carried out because you took the effort to plan everything in advance. One of the big decisions that you'll have to make is choosing whether you want a traditional burial or would rather be cremated. The latter option is growing in popularity in Canada due to its many benefits. Here are three reasons to consider cremation.

Cost

Although the exact cost of a cremation versus a burial depends on a long list of factors, cremation is typically a cost-effective way to deal with your remains after death. The cost of a burial can easily climb into five figures, while opting for the alternative of being cremated can often start at about $600. Whether you're on a tight budget and don't want to spend more than necessary on your funeral-related expenses or you'd just rather leave as much of your estate to your children as possible, opting for cremation can help you save thousands of dollars.

Scheduling Freedom

When someone wishes to be embalmed and buried, his or her surviving family members are often under a time constraint to schedule the funeral and burial within a short time span. Opting for cremation, however, gives your loved ones more freedom as to when they schedule a funeral or memorial service in your honour. The latter type of service is common for people who are cremated, as it can be held in the weeks following the death or even several months later. This flexibility means that your family members won't have to stress over solidifying the arrangements and that any family and friends who will travel a considerable distance to pay their respects have enough time to schedule their travel arrangements.

Environmental Factors

People who are environmentally conscious often steer clear of being buried because of the way it disrupts the earth in their community. If you're the type of person who highly values the health of the environment, being cremated won't take up valuable land. Instead, you can request that your family members keep your ashes in a place of prominence inside the home or scatter them in an outdoor location that carried special meaning to you, such as your favourite nature trail or even your backyard garden.