{
  "id": 10181624,
  "title": "My husband and I work full-time but had to borrow money to pay for my dad's cremation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/27/my-husband-and-i-work-full-time-but-had-to-borrow-money-to-pay-for-my",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-27T09:00:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/death-cremation-cost-debt-borrow-money-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Heather Waughtel, a 47-year-old project coordinator from Knoxville, Tennessee, recounts her struggles after her father's sudden death in 2026. Despite both Heather and her husband working full-time, they lived paycheck to paycheck, leaving them unable to cover the expenses of her father's cremation. When her father passed away, his life insurance policy was cashed out, and there was no inheritance or additional funds available. A family friend stepped in and loaned Heather and her husband the necessary money for the funeral expenses, which amounted to around $3,700. Heather felt guilty for burdening her friend with the debt, and she contemplated using her power of attorney to manage her father's affairs before his death. She attended a wills and trusts seminar to ensure her children wouldn't face the same financial woes. The experience left Heather feeling anxious, embarrassed, and agitated as she processed her grief during a challenging time.",
  "summary": "Heather Waughtel and her husband both work full-time but have no savings. When she lost her dad, she had to borrow $3,700 from a family friend.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}