Without a final expense life insurance plan in place for the one's that you care for the most, your loved ones will unfortunately be left with the responsibility of paying any remaining expenses. Taking care of ones final expenses can become pricey and usually there's more costs to consider beyond just funeral services.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the national median cost for a funeral with a burial and vault is close to $9,000. The national median cost for a funeral with cremation is now over $6,000. The benefit you receive from the government when you are on social security is just a small amount of $255.00.

These cost estimates do not include the cemetery plot ($2,000), monument, headstone or grave marker ($1,000-$10,000), miscellaneous items like flowers ($300-$600) or an obituary ($200). If we factor those costs in, the average cost for a funeral with a burial and vault can be more like $15,000.

These estimates do not include other possible end-of-life costs. Here’s a list of items to consider that your loved ones may be responsible for on short notice: