1.   COSTS First, find out how much goods and services cost in your area by calling funeral homes and memorial societies.

2.   Memorial societies are another alternative, said Lisa Carlson, director of the Funeral and Memorial Society of America in Hinesberg, Vt.

3.   Memorial societies are independent of funeral homes and advise members to use caution about any prepayment plan.

4.   She ends this one with a listing of not-for-profit funeral and memorial societies in each state.

5.   They should ask for information about simple, affordable funerals and for the name of the memorial society in their area.

6.   Unlike the many nonprofit memorial societies in existence, Neptune is a for-profit business, owned by Sentinel Cremation Societies Inc.