When a loved one dies, the last thing on most people's minds is money. Only later do grief-stricken survivors find out that dying in America is very expensive -- so expensive, the saying goes, that no one can afford to do it anymore.

The average "funeral":http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335821025&toolid=10001&customid=&ext=funeral&satitle=funeral in the United States cost $6,500 in 2004, according to the National Funeral Directors Association. The true sum can easily reach $10,000 once a burial plot , flowers and other costs are included, says AARP.

You needn't go into debt in order to honor the dead, however. In many parts of the country, a loved one can be laid to rest with dignity for less than $800, by choosing "cremation":http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335821025&toolid=10001&customid=&ext=cremation+urn&satitle=cremation+urn and exercising some creativity. Even those who favor a more traditional funeral and burial can save hundreds or thousands of dollars by taking a few simple steps.

Whatever your preferences, consumer advocates recommend three steps above all others.

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