Looking for the best mattress for your money? To cut through the clutter of advertising you'll see out there, Consumer Reports has a look at the best mattresses and mattress retailers. The magazine broke out their findings by category: Traditional innerspring, memory foam and adjustable air. In each category, Consumer Reports recommends a best buy, as well as other mattresses they recommend based on ratings. Innerspring: The Denver Mattress Doctor's Choice for $500. The Sealy Posturepedic Hybrid Trust Cushion for $1,275 is also a best buy in this category, with a higher rating, but it's obviously a bit more expensive. Memory foam: Tuft & Needle Ten for $600. (Message from Tuft & Needle: "We don't actually use any memory foam in our mattress. We use our own time of polyfoam, T&N Adaptive™ foam. We created it with a foam scientist to have the pressure relief and comfort of memory foam and the breathability and support of latex foam.") The Novaform 14" Serafina Pearl Gel (Costco) is also a "best buy" pick for this category, but it's more expensive at $800.
Adjustable air: Sleep Number c2 Bed for $800. It's important to remember that price does not necessarily equate to satisfaction with mattresses. A more expensive mattress may not make for a better product. For more tips on finding the right mattress for you, check out Consumer Reports' buying guide here. Read more: What you need to know about sleeping pills On the question of retailers, Consumer Reports ranked the Original Mattress Factory stores as the top choice for customer satisfaction. Costco Wholesale was a close second. The high placement for Costco may reflect their return policy on mattresses: A full money back refund without penalty and no time limit. That really makes Costco stand apart! I particularly like the warehouse clubs for mattress shopping, and I've long advised people to test the mattress right there in the store for an extended period. Bring a book or tablet to Costco or Sam's Club and get those mattresses off the displays or yank them off the walls.
Then lay there for 15 minutes and see how you like the feel before you buy. There's one more option I want to mention to you. Casper is a new mattress company that's beloved by millennials. Their mattress comes via package delivery in this tiny box and you open it and watch it unfold before your eyes. The mattress, which sells for between $500 and $950, is made of memory foam and latex. Here's the reason a lot of young people really like this company: Casper gives you 100 nights to test out their mattress. If you don't like it, you send it back for 100% refund.Shop smart to find the best deals. Labor Day has become one of those shopping holidays when retailers advertise big sales to get people into stores, but shopping this weekend is not without its overpriced perils. , “Labor Day sales take additional discounts off already-reduced clearance items.” But you need to be a smart shopper to score the best deals. First, “make sure you do your comparison shopping: a lot of retailers will label their wares with a Labor Day promo, but it might not be any different than their normal discounts,” says Lindsay Sakraida, the features director at DealNews.
, CouponSherpa or RetailMeNot to find coupons) and shipping costs to get the final cost. Low gas prices lead consumers to buy more gas guzzlers(1:07) With gas prices staying under $3, consumers are spending their savings on trips, cars and eating out. Shoppers also must be patient: “Although it’s tempting to get shopping at the very beginning of the weekend, you’re actually more likely to get the best deals later — so shop Monday if possible,” says Konrad, although she notes that you risk having a smaller assortment to choose from. And finally, shoppers need to be savvy about what they buy or they’ll end spending way too much. Here’s what consumers should — and should not — consider buying this Labor Day weekend. You may be tempted to buy a smartphone over Labor Day weekend. Don’t do it, experts say.“Avoid buying major electronics like TVs and game systems, as you’ll be able to find them for deeper discounts during Black Friday and the holidays,” says Lal.
Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch says that while retailers will promote Labor Day sales on select fall fashion, you’ll get better deals on most items later in the season, such as during Columbus Day or Black Friday, and sometimes even later; for winter essentials like coats and boots, she advises you wait until after Christmas for the best bang for your buck. The reason: Since these fall clothes recently hit stores, they’re unlikely to be deeply discounted, says Konrad. “Toy stores and major retailers that sell toys are holding out for later in the fall when they release the items that are new and popular for the holidays,” says Lal. “That’s one thing that actually pays off to procrastinate with as a parent,” he says. Expect to find good prices on school supplies Labor Day weekend.Furthermore, around Labor Day, stores will start unveiling coupons that take an additional discount on end-of-season sale items, says Sakraida. These coupons, in combination with discounts already in effect, can help you save 50%-80% off the original price of an item, says Woroch.
Buy: A new car. “Labor Day is an ideal time to purchase a car, if you’re willing to buy an existing model,” says Lal. “Dealerships are trying to move inventory to make room for new models debuting in September, and you can find good deals and incentives on previous years’ models.” Bodge says that SUVs in particular are good deals over Labor Day weekend. Who takes care of office when staff goes to burning man? At tech offices across the country, companies have to make new protocols for when contingents of employees decamp for Burning Man.“If you waited on any back-to-school shopping, you can now find apparel and supplies on sale during Labor Day and afterwards, as kids head back to classes and retailers need to make room for new inventory,” says Lal. This includes laptops, says Woroch. “Retailers are promoting back to school/college deals on laptops through early September,” she says. Buy: Grills and patio furniture. “Patio sets and grills are also going to be heavily marked down, as stores try to clear out their inventory,” says Sakraida, who adds that you can get discounts of up to 75% off.
She cautions, however, that “if you’re not particular about what you get, these items might receive even heavier discounts after summer is officially over.” Other summer-related items are also likely to be a good deal. Bodge recommends buying new air-conditioning systems or units now if you need them, and Lal says that pools are on sale often. Buy: Appliances and mattresses. “Most appliance retailers release sales and specials during holidays like Labor Day,” says Woroch, who adds that you can expect 10 - 30% savings off the original price. “Be ready to bargain, though, and compare prices as stores typically price match competitors.” Stores like Best By and Walmart , as well as Home Depot (both of which not only price match, but will beat the competitor’s price by 10%) all have a price-match policy. “Mattresses are another popular holiday weekend sales item, and stores will knock up to 60% off select models,”says Sakraida. “Watch out for the shipping costs though;