Karen’s Opinion

Let’s face it, the economy is terrible, we are working harder than ever to make more money, and are less likely to spend it on things that are not practical. Long gone are the days when we would buy something just because it seemed like a good idea at the time (ah impulse spending). Nowadays, people make careful purchases. Life insurance is one of those things out there that is of prime importance to have; yet because it isn’t concrete and we can’t hold and touch it, many give it a miss. Read on and discover why purchasing a life insurance policy can be one of the smartest buys you can make.

Be Selfish, It Pays Off

We all love to shop for others, and unless you are and unless you are living in the depths of the Congo, you have heard the old expression “it is better to give than to receive”. Although I agree with this sentiment, I have always raised an eyebrow at it for this simple reason: by giving to others, we are giving to ourselves. The chemical reaction that takes place in the human brain that gives us pleasure is produced when we do things that make us happy. I’m sure you have had those moments at Christmas time when you watch a loved one open a gift you chose for them, and that good feeling hits harder than your joy of receiving a gift yourself. By giving to others, we are giving to ourselves, and this paradox shows the subtle shades of human selfishness (in a good way). Just because you are dead doesn’t mean you will stop giving to others. By insuring your life, and setting aside money for your dependents (be them a spouse, children, or other family) you can live out the rest of your days knowing full well that if a piano falls on your head, your loved ones will not suffer financially as a result of your loss.

Funerals are expensive. In a blog by The Funeral Guy, he reports that the average cost of a funeral is $8,500.00. Now, if you are like me, you might be content with being burned to cinders and having your ashes chucked into the deep blue sea. But for many people this violates their religious and spiritual beliefs. Also, burial is still the most commonly used means of dead body care. The Funeral guy says one way to make your funeral cheaper is to forgo embalming. I find this disturbing. Saying farewell and caring for the dead is not like buying a new car where you can make sacrifices by giving up the leather seats and cruise control to save some money. The thought of my loved one being in the ground without embalming is rather sickening, but that’s just me. A funeral is the final act a person is given, and funeral planning should not be a like a Wal Mart bargain basement event. Investing in a life insurance policy will allow you to give comfort to your loved ones. As a result, they will be able to say goodbye to you without the guilty feeling that they cramming you into some “thrift store box of a coffin”. Remember, funerals are not for the deceased, but rather they are to help those living to deal with your loss, and to usher in a structured way to say goodbye. Whether you get a life insurance policy that only covers funeral expenses, or that covers this cost as well as providing a cash payout, you will be making one final act of giving, while your loved ones give back to you (yes, we revert back to the paradox).

Find your Choice Policy

Considering the things covered in this article, it should make total sense to you to go get a life insurance policy to protect the financial and emotional well-being of your loved ones. Policies are very affordable, and pay off big in multiple ways. They are not structured to make someone rich and give them the posh life while you are decaying away somewhere, but rather they are designed to offer compassion, love and security to those you care about the most.

Photo source: http://www.schemamag.ca/indepth/assets/Assfish%20Funeral2.jpg