We often consider and are prepared for other life surprises, such as having car insurance just in case we have a crash and can't afford to fix ours and any other vehicles involved.

So why not start thinking now about having a prepaid funeral plan or at least the funds that would need to be set aside to cover the costs if the most unfortunate of things does happen?

Such things to think about and pre-pay can include pre-purchasing a burial plot and prepaying funeral expenses. Just as you may also wish to have spoken with a solicitor about how you'd like you affairs to be handled after death, you may wish to speak with a funeral director about how you'd like your funeral to take place.

Purchasing a burial plot in advance means you'll know exactly where you'll be buried, which could be of significance to some people, who would like to be buried near other relatives, for example.

A burial plot is either a specific place or a right to be interred at a general location (for example in any available plot in a specific cemetery).

Prepaid funeral expenses are where you have arranged and purchased your funeral in advance.

The type and style of funeral you want is set out in a contract and paid for at today's prices.

You can either pay this directly to the funeral director, who will invest the funds in a funeral trust, or you can have a specific account set up with your financial institution for the purpose of payment of your funeral when required.

If you pre-pay through a funeral director, the risk that the investment will not keep pace with rising funeral costs lies with the funeral director.

You will not need to pay any more even if prices rise.

The payment however, cannot be refunded unless you move outside the designated funeral service area.

There are, of course, a number of reasons why you may want to consider paying for your funeral now and the one that tops the list is the convenience and relief it provides your surviving family.

The emotional and financial burden of arranging and paying for your funeral can in many cases cause stress at a time which is difficult enough as it is without financial pressures of what is definitely, an expensive occasion.

So, it might just be worth considering now - to save the trouble for your loved ones later.

*Sara Morrison is business development manager at South West Credit.