My husband and I work full-time but had to borrow money to pay for my dad's cremation
A personal essay details the financial hardship faced by a working-class couple struggling to afford funeral costs after the death of a parent. The story highlights the lack of financial safety nets and the burden of debt for families dealing with end-of-life expenses.
Why it matters
This highlights the 'cost of dying' crisis in the US, where unexpected funeral expenses can push families living paycheck-to-paycheck into debt.
Heather Waughtel's father died in 2026. Courtesy of Heather Waughtel When Heather Waughtel's dad died, a family friend covered the cremation after her card was declined. Waughtel and her husband both work full-time, but live paycheck to paycheck. "We're barely making enough to live. How can we afford for someone to die?" she said. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Heather Waughtel, 47, a project coordinator based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Business Insider has verified her income and her dad's funeral costs. It has been edited for length and clarity. Before my dad died, I felt we had been responsible by discussing things like finances and the power of attorney. Dad had life insurance and said the cremation would be covered.
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