It's not much fun to think about what happens after you die, however, those who care about you will appreciate it if you do. In a survey by the International Cemetery and Funeral Association, 80% of people think planning a funeral before they die is a good idea, but only 12% of us actually put it in writing.

However, this may be changing: the National Funeral Directors Association says that prepayment and preplanning is a big trend.

“Preneed” is a funeral industry term that describes arranging and/or paying for a funeral prior to death.

By planning your funeral, you choose the type of service you want and you save your family from making tough decisions during a time of bereavement.

There are more and more ways to spend on funerals, which is a multi-billion dollar American industry. Although the average funeral today costs about $7,000, the sky’s the limit if you want all the frills.

Like a wedding, a funeral is one of the most emotional times for families, and people tend to overspend. The ceremony becomes an expression of their deep feelings for their loved one, and they feel they should not be cheap at a time like that.

Keep in mind that from a financial point of view, a funeral is a major expense. Professionals in the funeral business can use this emotional time to nudge you to buy things you can’t afford.

As with buying a car or any major expense, it’s best to comparison shop for the best price for funeral arrangements. But this is often not practical in the midst of your grief. It is better to compare prices when you are not emotional and before the need arises.

Here are your choices: A “full service” funeral with viewing of the body, services, a hearse to take the body to the cemetery, and burial is the most expensive choice.

A “direct burial” means the body is buried right after death, with no viewing or services. You’ll pay for a casket, burial space, opening and closing the grave, and a headstone.

“Direct cremation” costs about $1,000 or less. That means the body is cremated after death without embalming or visitation or cemetery expenses.

It's important to know that you have certain legal rights when you buy a funeral.

1. Legally, you are not required to use a funeral home.

2. You are not required to buy embalming or a casket if you’re having the body cremated.

3. In most states, you are not required to buy a burial vault or liner if you’re having the body buried.

4. You have the right to choose what items or services you want. Many funerals are sold as “packages” but you do not have to buy a package.

If you do prepay, make sure you know exactly what you are paying for:

• Can you get a refund if the funeral home goes out of business?

• Can you transfer the arrangements to another area if you move?

• Can you keep the interest on the money in a trust arrangement?

There are a few ways to set aside money for funeral arrangements. One is a special savings plan called a Totten trust. Here you deposit a sum of money in a savings account or certificate and the funds are available to your beneficiary immediately upon your death.

Another common method is to purchase a life insurance policy or "preneed plan" with the beneficiary of your choice.

If you decide to plan your funeral, don’t store your plan with your will. Wills often don’t get read until after funerals are over.

Veterans are entitled to a free burial in a national cemetery with a free grave marker. For information, click here or call 1-800-827-1000.

For more information on funerals, see the Federal Trade Commission’s “Funerals: A Consumer's Guide.” Another source is Funerals.org.

See what you learned.