Planning your own funeral may seem morbid, but it can actually be beneficial in a number of ways. You can alleviate the financial burden left to your family once you’re gone and you can ensure your final wishes are met. But planning a funeral can be complex and overwhelming, especially when it’s your own. So let’s take a look at a few mistakes to avoid to help make the process easier.

Not communicating your wishes: Planning your own funeral is not as uncommon as you may think. In fact, 69% of Harris Poll survey respondents agreed that they would like to pre-arrange their funeral. When you’re planning your funeral, you need to make it clear what exactly it is you want — whether you want to work with a specific funeral director, if you want to be buried or cremated, and even where you want the service to take place. Communicating these wishes clearly will ensure they’re met when the time comes.

Not establishing a budget: It’s no secret that funerals can be expensive. So if you don’t establish a budget to work with, you may be paying off your funeral for a very long time. So before you start making decisions, come up with a budget — you may want to meet with a few funeral professionals first to get a good idea of average funeral costs. From there, figure out how much you’d like to spend and how to make sure your wishes fit within the budget.

Not thinking about others: While planning your own funeral helps to ensure your last wishes are met properly, it’s important to remember that your funeral is not just for you — it will be for your grieving family and friends. A funeral is supposed to allow the living to come together to remember the deceased, and find and give support. Without a proper funeral, people may not have the opportunity to get the closure they need. So when you’re planning your funeral, make sure to think about your family and friends, too. Choosing a funeral home you think can provide support is a great place to start.

There are many reasons to plan your own funeral. And if you take your time and avoid these common mistakes, you’ll be able to plan a nice service both you and your loved ones will appreciate.