The cremation place will hand you a plastic bag inside a plastic box. They expect you to buy a $200 vase to put it in. You don't have to. "Pet Urns" are just containers. Anything can be an urn if the lid seals.
3 Ideas Better Than a "Death Vase"
1. The Cookie Jar Technique
Go to a thrift store or Home Goods. Find a beautiful ceramic cookie jar or tea canister that matches your living room decor.**Why:** It doesn't look like a tombstone. It just looks like home.**Cost:** $15 - $30.2. The Hollow Book
Buy a "book safe" or hollow out a thick hardback book yourself. Put the bag of ashes inside.**Why:** It sits on your bookshelf discreetly. You know they are there, but visitors don't need to ask uncomfortable questions.**Cost:** $15.3. The Planting Method (Bio-Urn)
Don't just bury the ash (it's bad for plants directly). Mix a small amount of ash with soil in a large pot and plant an indoor tree (Ficus, Rubber Tree).**Why:** You see life growing from it.**Cost:** $40 (pot + plant).Next Steps Checklist
Accept the "temporary container" from the crematorium.Don't rush to buy something permanent.Browse a regular home decor store, not a funeral store.Look for: "airtight seal" or "locking lid."