Let's face it - a funeral isn't the happiest thing to think about. That might be why many times when a death occurs, the surviving loved ones are left wondering what to do and how in the world they're going to pay for a funeral service and other expenses. There are more than 100 decisions that need to be made right away - contacting a funeral home, picking a location, scheduling, finding a minister, contacting a cemetery, securing permits, taking care of insurance, ordering flowers,  notifying social security, selecting music, etc. - to ensure the service for your loved one is memorable and satisfying.  Luckily there are some great options out there for making pre-arrangements to help make this process go as smoothly as possible. Chris Grubbs, of Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Homes, agrees that planning ahead can only ease the burden on your loved ones at the time of death. "Pre-arrangement allows your loved ones the time they need to grieve. They aren't having to make decisions at the time when they least want to deal with it, but have to," says Grubbs. Pre-arrangement also gives you a chance to communicate your wishes and desires - something that will keep your loved ones from making irrational decisions during their time of grief. Another benefit of planning ahead is the ability to pay for future expenses at today's prices, saving you money and taking the financial weight off the shoulders of your loved ones. You can pay in a lump sum, payments or premiums, but pre-arrangements can be made without paying a penny, too. Funeral homes like Chambers & Grubbs can keep all your pre-arrangements on file at no cost. So how do you start the pre-arrangement process? A Chambers & Grubbs representative can meet with you and your family at the funeral home or even in your own home. They're flexible when it comes to options and payments and they can provide materials you can look at before the meeting so you can make the correct decisions for you and your family without any on-the-spot pressure. "Our goal is to make the process as simple as possible, so that all you or your loved ones have to do when the time comes is show up for the services," says Grubbs. "There's no way that we can make things easy, but we can make things easier." So as strange as it may seem, try to take a little time to consider the type of arrangements you'd like to have at your funeral and how the arrangements will be funded. Getting the planning out of the way now will only help ease the strain on your loved ones in the future. It is truly a selfless, loving gift your family members will appreciate at a time they most need to be cared for.