Buying a mattress is not the kind of thing you do every day.
Many people don’t buy a new mattress until they move out of their family home, whilst others are passed down second-hand mattresses for years until they finally decide they can no longer put up with waking up with aches and pains.
It’s easy to forget about your sleep comfort once you’re out of bed and the distractions of the day are upon you.
We spend a third of our lives sleeping, and sleep plays a huge role in our overall health and wellbeing—so spending your hard-earned cash on a good night’s sleep should be worthwhile.
How Much is a Mattress?
For those of you who have never bought their own mattress or haven’t invested in one for years (sometimes decades!) it’s difficult to know where to start.
Mattress prices have increased immensely over the years and there is a lot more technology involved in the making of a mattress now with a huge variety of different options to choose from.
Typically, a mid-range mattress today will cost anywhere between £700-£1000.
A higher-end product with more springs, more support, and better-quality fillings will be much more expensive and will typically range from around £1500-£5000.
Anything below £500 is probably not going to be that supportive and whilst a cheaper mattress will be suitable for young children and teenagers, as you get older, you need to look after your comfort a little bit more.
Some people may genuinely need a new mattress but cannot afford to spend a lot. Cheaper mattresses will provide some comfort and may very well feel to you like a wonderful change compared with an old mattress.
But until you have experienced the comfort of a luxury mattress, you cannot compare the sub-£500 ones to the £1000+ mattresses.
Cheaper mattresses may also feel good at first, but not last very long at all. In fact, a £1000 mattress may last for over 10 years, but you may end up changing a cheaper mattress every 2-3 years. (In the long run spending more money)
Why You Should Pay More for Your Mattress
Like most things, with mattresses, you generally get what you pay for. A mattress made with better quality materials and lots of springs and fillings should mean better support and comfort.
However, the more the mattress has to offer will mean it’s likely going to be on the higher end of the price tag.
I’d be wary of mattresses with huge promises and low prices as making a genuinely good quality mattress is costly and the manufacturer needs to make their money back.
Paying more for a mattress also means it should last longer. A cheap mattress is only going to last a few years and will need replacing again. So, despite trying to budget, you end up paying more!
Sometimes differentiating between the quality of a mattress can be as easy as seeing what kind of warranty it offers.
A mid-range mattress should offer between a 5–8-year guarantee, whilst high-end products like Sealy and Tempur offer as much as 10 years.
Price Isn’t Everything
Even so, just because a mattress is expensive, doesn’t necessarily mean it will suit your needs. Everybody has different requirements when it comes to comfort, depending on their weight, sleeping position and a multitude of other factors.
Reviews can be helpful but remember what is comfortable to Sally from Yorkshire may not be the same as what’s comfortable for you!
A luxurious mattress with over four-thousand pocket springs and layers of alpaca wool, isn’t going to be much worth spending the money on if you find it uncomfortable.
There are lots of different options between pocket springs, memory foam, latex and wool fillings. You should always try before you buy as only you can decide what feels good!
How to Budget for a Mattress
You don’t have to break the bank for a new mattress. Many retailers offer different finance and payment plans that can help paying for your mattress easier.
If you can, it’s definitely worth saving up a bit of extra money before you jump straight into buying a new mattress, as you will probably end up spending more than you realise. Once you’ve found your perfect mattress, shop around, and see who can offer you the best deal.
High-street retailers usually have their biggest sales during Easter and Boxing Day, but also offer great discounts all-year-round so it may be worth waiting until your mattress is on sale.
You can always ask your salesperson for a quote and request a call for when your chosen mattress is on offer. Likewise, if you are shopping online, Black Friday is a great time to buy. Look out for coupon codes and try compare sites to see who has the best offers.
Other Things to Consider
There’s no point spending all your hard-earned cash on an expensive mattress and then budgeting on other items such as pillows, which can be just as important to your sleep.
See if the mattress you’re buying comes with recommended pillows as they are usually made with the same technology and materials that complement the mattress.
Some pillows also offer great guarantees such as Tempur whose memory foam pillows offer a three-year guarantee and Dunlopillo which have a five-year-guarantee on their latex range!
But Remember…
Buying a mattress should be an enjoyable experience! Don’t get too overwhelmed in all the technology and price-tags and just focus on what’s comfortable for you.
If you can’t decide right away, then take some time and have a think before making a purchase. In other words, sleep on it!