When my father died a while back we decided to cremate him. The amount of money they suggested we spend on a casket that was literally going up in smoke was ridiculous.

similar problems in aged care honestly. Many people would rather sign away the equity in their parents' estate to an aged care provider, then actually care for their aging parents in their time of absolute vulnerability.

Humorously, hospitals really don't want you to die when you're there. It's a lot of paperwork. Nothing kicks the social worker or case manager into overdrive like the doctor saying there is much less than 6 months left to live on the hospice paperwork.

Everyone thinks that you are supposed to go to the hospital when you are dying

Do they? I often hear of people wanting to die at home if they have the choice, there is also hospice care. Hospital would only make sense if you have something that might be possible to treat, at least at the point of deciding to go.

Glad to have the NHS though, so there is no cost to worry about. Pretty sure you can get cremated for under £1k, you don't need to get a gold plated box.

Aren't hospitals mostly free? Or tax payer funded.