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According to a 2009 study by the France-based group, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), people in the UK get an average of 503 minutes of sleep per night, or slightly less than eight and one half hours. This is based upon data collected in 2006, and while it is likely that economic conditions have shrunk this number somewhat, it is reasonably safe to assume that the average Brit still spends a good third of his or her life sleeping. When one considers how deeply the length and quality of sleep affects their productivity, health, and overall quality of life, it should be surprising that so many people opt for the least expensive mattress they can find, with the result being a marked negative impact upon all three factors. In short, buying the least expensive mattress will generally prove to be no bargain at all.
That said, there are a few things that can help you save a substantial amount and still procure the makings for a good night’s sleep.
Don’t buy a used mattress
Let’s face it – buying a mattress is not an impulse purchase. Most people don’t buy a new mattress on a whim. They buy when their existing mattress fails to meet whatever standards they have, for comfort, appearance, or other, potentially less pleasant aesthetic qualities. When you purchase a used mattress, you are quite likely purchasing something that is either uncomfortable, ugly, or smelly. And when you consider the legions of microscopic creatures that make their homes in mattresses, you might well be purchasing an entire civilization of parasites.
Don’t buy the cheapest new mattress you can find
While few of us can afford the most expensive mattresses, which can easily cost in excess of £20,000, the difference in cost between the cheapest mattresses and quality ones is generally less than about £400. Koalapaydayloans.com could provide the funds you need to ensure you have the best chance of having a good nights sleep. The cheaper ones tend to be either overly hard or exceedingly soft, offering little support or comfort. The result is that you’ll likely suffer from fitful sleep, followed by assorted soreness the following day. As noted above, you will likely spend one third of your life sleeping on the mattress you purchase, and since the recommended useful life of a mattress is an unrealistically brief 8 years, you will have spent in excess of 23,000 hours on it. Therefore, by purchasing the cheapest mattress, you will have sacrificed comfort and adequate rest, all in the effort to save about one and a half pence per hour, or twelve pence per night. A false economy if ever there was one.
Contrary to what your Mum & Dad told you, you really need to “sleep around”
Visit a few sellers to see what they have to offer. And don’t just look. Sit on every mattress. Lay down on it, and stay there for a few minutes to see how it feels. You needn’t feel embarrassed doing so, because that is exactly what the mattresses are on display for. And make note of the specific ones you like and don’t like, as well as the price for each.
Don’t buy from the first place you go
Store owners are counting upon customers buying the mattress they like then and there, and will often use subtle pressure tactics to induce you to make an immediate purchase. Avoid giving in to temptation, and tell the salesperson that you prefer to shop around. Unless the price they offer is absolutely fantastic, you won’t be hurt by comparing prices at different stores, and despite what the salesperson says, they will usually hold to their “sale” price if you do come back.
Watch for real sales, rather than constant promotions
The furniture business is a highly competitive one, and many sellers run one ‘huge” sale after another, counting upon customers to only notice their adverts when they are thinking of purchasing. You will want to shop around for a fortnight or so, sorting out the fake sales from the real ones, and finding who offers the best price for the same mattress. You might even look for special “overstock” sales, such as those staged by mattress manufacturers who offer overruns on orders placed by hotels. Once you’ve finished shopping, go to a pub, tea shop, or back home and go over the notes you made at different shops to make your decision. Then, go back to your chosen shop, and get your best price. And don’t be afraid to haggle a bit, as some sellers will be willing to cut back on the price somewhat to make a sale, especially if it is approaching the end of the month or the time when they are placing orders for new merchandise.
A topper, perhaps?
If you discover that the prices you find are simply beyond your budget, and you find yourself reasoning that your old mattress isn’t really all that bad, you might consider purchasing a mattress topper for it, rather than replacing it. So long as your old mattress doesn’t sag in the middle, doesn’t look or smell too bad, a topper might be just the thing for you. In particular, the new visco-elastic (memory) foam toppers can make even an older or cheaper mattress feel like a luxury model, at far lower cost than replacing the mattress itself. The best toppers are solid memory foam, and come in sizes to fit any bed. The biggest choice you’ll have to make will be the thickness of the topper. If your mattress isn’t too hard, you are fairly light in weight, and you sleep primarily on your back, a thickness of approximately 2.5cm might be adequate. If you are of normal weight, or sleep primarily on your side or stomach, a 5cm thickness would be better. And if you are heavier, you’ll want to go to a 7.5 or even 10cm thickness.
Following these few steps will put you in the best position to get a mattress you’ll be happy with, for the best possible price. Not necessarily the lowest price, but one that will prove to be a good investment over the years you’ll be spending in bed. Happy shopping!
