Beat the cost of dying- buy your casket online

We hope that you plan to spend the rest of your life joining us in our quest for bargains. But what about afterward? It's no secret that the cost of dying is rising with the rest of the economy. According to the National Funeral Director's Association (NFDA) the average cost of a funeral in 2004 was $6,500.

Fortunately, the era of comparison shopping now encompasses even the afterlife. For example, Overstock.com currently has a selection of 13 different caskets ranging in price from $1,500 to $2,500, futon-class savings of 48-57% off list. And these aren't particle-board and vinyl boxes, either, but 18-gauge steel and cherry wood beauties. A wide-body model to fit the generously proportioned corpse is even available.

Jessica Koth, Communications Coordinator of NFDA, told me that, by law, funeral homes are required to allow customers to provide their own caskets, although most people choose to buy them as part of the funeral package. After all, many people would be loathe to store a bargain casket until the day it is needed. Although, now that I think about it, a casket might make an excellent container for icing down beer for the big game...

If saving money is for you a lifetime+ preoccupation, you might keep an eye out for online sales. Eventually, you could run across a killer deal.

Thanks to Maureen Keyhani for the tip