Many are shocked to learn the cost of a funeral, but bear in mind many factors contribute to that cost.

Expenses that need to be budgeted for include the funeral director's fees for planning the funeral, transporting the deceased to a funeral home, a hearse to transport the coffin to the funeral location, the coffin itself, death certificate, preparing the body for viewing, burial or cremation, cemetery and crematorium fees, including the cost of a burial site, a headstone or an urn for cremated remains.

Other expenses can include newspaper notices, flowers, a celebrant, order-of-service booklets and refreshments for the wake.

A study by comparison website finder.com.au last year found Sydney topped the list of the most expensive Australian cities to have a funeral in, with the average ceremony in the city costing about $8,357. Despite the hardships it can cause, the research found 60 per cent of Australians had no plans to pay for their funerals, leaving relatives to foot the bill.

Bessie Hassan, insurance expert at finder.com.au, said people should be mindful of the financial impact funerals can have on their savings, and on those of their family members.

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"Funerals have been a part of our culture for thousands of years but unfortunately it's not something we like to think about when it's our own," she said.

"With the average funeral in Australia costing about $7,500, it's important to think about who that cost would fall on if something went wrong without warning. The onus is on you to ensure you've considered the worst case scenario and communicated your preferences to your loved ones."

Not everyone feels comfortable discussing their plans for memorialisation, but this would be the most important thing you can do for your family!

Did you know that there are normally over 200 questions asked at the time of someone's passing and not everyone has the answer to everything, and most importantly do you need to be answering questions when in fact the family should be able to grieve.

At Lakeside Memorial Park, they offer a free community project information booklet to assist you in answering those questions well in advance, plus lots of other information just as important to your family.

When thinking about pre-planning, keep in mind that there is no cheaper price than today and it means you get to choose where you wish to be memorialised.

Plus, there are the benefits of paying it off for up to five years with no interest.

Family services manager at Lakeside, Paul Michlmayr said, "Call us today and make an appointment so that we can explain everything to you, we also have a mobile service available, making it easier for one of our friendly family service advisors to visit you in the comfort of your home.

"What are you waiting for, together we can make a difference for your family."

Phone 4261 1200.