Digging for Money?

The economy has led to some unusual ways to save money. “Used” mausoleums have been quietly sold for years, but today the bargain-priced final resting places seem even more desirable. Old mausoleums were made by craftsmen. Refurbishing entails hiring experienced workmen to remove inscriptions–and bodies. Today some new mausoleums are mass-produced in China and shipped to American cemeteries. If you save money by buying a used mausoleum, you still have to pay for the cost of using the cemetery’s land—the most expensive part. Some used mausoleums are more expensive than others. The Financial Times of London reports that a marble and bronze monument in a New York cemetery has been for sale since 2003 even though the original $5 million asking price has been lowered by 30 percent…