“People buy shoes online even though you can’t try them on… a mattress is no different, right?” Faced with buying a new mattress two years ago, I uttered these words to Mrs. Frugalwoods and then embarked on a frugal slumber experiment. My goal was to see if my wife and I could buy a mattress online, save tons of money, and still get a great night’s sleep. Let’s start at the beginning. Mrs. Frugalwoods is what we would lovingly call an “active sleeper.” She is a tiny woman with powerful kicking legs. Must be all that yoga. We had a double bed for the first several years of our marriage and I have the scars to prove it! So when we moved back to the Northeast a few years ago, getting a bed large enough to provide Mrs. Frugalwoods with room to roam and myself to sleep without being pummeled was on the top of my list. And holy mother-of-pillowtop are king sized mattresses expensive! This low-end tempurpedic is $2,400! Our car isn’t worth $2,400! The Mrs. and I saw those prices and were not impressed.
It also quickly became apparent that mattresses are extremely profitable and sold in a manner similar to used cars. I do not need a salesperson to assist me, thank you very much. But we really needed a mattress. So we made a list of our snoozing requirements and asked the internet. anyway (gloves for hound teeth brushing, for example) so it was a natural place to start looking. Turns out, they have an entire mattress section. After reading through a bunch of the firm mattress reviews, we settled on the LUCID 8″ Memory Foam Mattress. It checked all the boxes and 2 years ago was only $279 for the king size. Plus, and this is the really crazy part, Prime Shipping! That’s right, Amazon shipped a king sized mattress to our door in a mere 2 days from ordering it, FOR FREE. When it arrived, we warily eyeballed the heavy, awkward, long tube that the mattresses was vacuum packed into. The box was plastered with warnings to put the box in the room where you want the mattress before opening it and releasing the tightly coiled foam.
We carefully put the box in the bedroom and then slit the straining plastic holding back the surging foam mattress. As dramatic as it sounds (and as we had imagined it), in reality the foam just slowly unrolled itself and started gaining the shape of a mattress. Did it smell a little “new car-ish” (for lack of a better term)? Yes, but it wasn’t overwhelming. The box suggested leaving the windows open for a few hours while the foam attained its shape. We opened the box when we got home from work and by the time we were ready to go to bed, the smell was no longer noticeable. So how does a $279 mattress from the internet feel? I actually remember chuckling as I lay down for the first time. We picked the 8″ version specifically because it was the firmest (they also make 10″ and 12″ which are softer) and wow does it deliver. Firm but comfy and extremely supportive of our backs. Two years later, internet mattress is still firm and supportive! Since this mattress has foam layered in a specific order, you can’t flip it but you can rotate it.
We do that every 6 months to try and keep the wear level the same. So far I haven’t noticed any significant settling of the foam. One of the things I was most concerned about was how it would feel during the summer. I’d heard from some people that memory foam can hold the heat next to your body. In practice we haven’t noticed any additional heat. In short, it’s been a great mattress and we expect to get many more years of good sleep on it! Over the past two years, I’ve evangelized buying a mattress from Amazon to coworkers and friends, several of whom have bought the same or similar mattresses. So far no complaints! Take a look at the Amazon mattress section, in particular the Lucid foam mattress, and keep it in mind the next time you’re in the market for a bed. Have you purchased a mattress online? Ever thought about it? Think it’s the weirdest thing ever? Let me have it! Note: I bought the mattress with my own money. No one paid me to do this review, I just think it’s a pretty awesome way to save money. T
he links to the mattress are affiliate links, which means if you also score a deal on a great mattress, Amazon will pay the Frugalwoods Family a small percentage of the sale. Frugal Hound thanks you in advance! Never Miss A Story Sign up to get new Frugalwoods stories in your email inbox. With our factory-direct relationship we sell these same mattresses at prices that can range from 20-50% below comparable models elsewhere. In addition, we carry a wide variety of Platform Beds (that don't need a box spring), Futon Frames, Sleep Sofas, Bunk Beds, Loft Beds and top-quality, hardwood-construction bedroom furniture such as Dressers, Chests and Nightstands. Sleep on the BEST! Gone Coastal Cushion Firm Back Bay Plush Pillowtop Welcome to Boston Bed Company For more than 35 years we've been Boston's best factory-direct retail outlet for mattress and futons. Our Ther-A-Pedic mattresses are manufactured locally in Massachusetts and are the same high-quality models as those sold in those other premium bedding and furniture stores.
With our factory-direct relationship we sell these same mattresses at prices that can range from 20-50% below comparable models elsewhere. In addition, we carry a wide variety of Platform Beds (that don't need a boxspring), Headboards, Futon Frames and Sleep Sofas, Bunk Beds, Loft Beds, and top-quality, hardwood-construction bedroom furniture such as Dressers, Chests and Nightstands. We can even make a custom sized mattress to fit that special antique bed that belonged to Grandma. For special orders and other questions regarding custom sizes, delivery information or items not shown online please contact us toll free at 888-233-2269 or 617-782-3830.A good night’s sleep, just like proper diet and exercise, is essential to your mental, emotional and physical health. But many people do not get the recommended amount and quality of sleep required each night, waking up tired, experiencing difficulty concentrating, irritability, weakened immune system, higher stress levels and feeling drained throughout the day.
Some people will experience a stiff neck, back pain, pins and needles sensation and waking up soaked in sweat after sleeping on a poor quality or old mattress. The solution can be as simple as sleeping on a better mattress. You May Need a New Mattress if… Your mattress like an old pair of shoes can still feel comfortable long after it has lost its ability to provide your body with the proper comfort and support it needs. The life span of a mattress depends on a few points such as how often it’s used, the quality, your own changing comfort and support needs such as age and weight. In general, a mattress that has been used for five to eight years may no longer provide proper comfort and support you may need, and should be reassessed. A scientific study from Oklahoma State University, “Found that people with mattresses five years old or older reported significant improvements in sleep quality and comfort when sleeping on a new mattress, regardless of the sleeper’s age or weight”.
So it is important to compare the mattress you are sleeping on now to newer models every few years. Is it time to Buy a New Mattress ? If you answered yes to these questions more than no it may be time for a new bed or mattress. According to an Oklahoma State University study, a new mattress provided sleepers with significant improvements, including*: *As compared to sleeping on a mattress 5 years old or older. When choosing a new bed you should consider: Choosing the right mattress for that great night’s sleep is a mattress that provides the correct comfort and support for you. But you should also consider what sleep position you prefer, whether you prefer a cooler or warmer sleep, do you have any injuries that affect you sleep and if you prefer a firmer or softer feeling mattress. Also consider your partner when selecting a new mattress as they may have different sleeping requirements to you. Modern beds are made from a vast number of different materials and technologies, which can be confusing but with some general mattress information on the variety of choices available, will make it easier to choose the right bed for you.
A good mattress is designed to provide support for your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as a person with good standing posture. Pay special attention to your shoulders, hips and lower back—the heaviest parts of the body.A good quality mattress is built to provide you with superior comfort. Luxurious comfort layers materials and extra-soft surface fabrics are used to create a plusher, more comfortable feel. 3). Durability: It’s the quality of the materials used and how they’re put together that determines how long a mattress and foundation will provide comfort and support. Regardless of the type of sleep system you decide to purchase, always evaluate a mattress for comfort, support, durability and space. The mattress that best addresses these needs is the mattress for you. Did you know: The warranty on a mattress and foundation is not an indicator of how long the product should be used before replacement? Instead, the warranty exists to protect the consumer from product defects, not against gradual loss of comfort and support.
However the length of warranty on a product will in normal cirumstances give an indication of the quality of materials used and therefore the confidence a manufacturer has in this product in regards to reliability and in turn durability. A double bed is 4ft6 wide, which is just 17.5 inches wider than a single size. That leaves each partner only 26.5 inches of personal space, or about the width of a crib. Both single and double sizes are approximately 6ft3 long, which may be too short for some adults, especially men. Recommendations: A double bed is only enough space to comfortably sleep a single sleeper or two small people. Parents are increasingly choosing double size over single for teenage bedrooms. Parents are even making this choice for younger children to give themselves a more comfortable place to rest when reading bed time stories together. Finding the Mattress of your Dreams: Remember it is important to have an educated salesperson who can guide you through the many choices in bedding to help you find the mattress that best meets your personal needs and preferences.
Shop for the best value mattress, not the lowest price, the best assurance for good mattress performance over many years is to buy the highest quality sleep set you can afford. Be sure to “test drive” your new mattress (if you’re a woman, it’s best to go mattress-shopping in jeans or pants) and lie down on several different models in various positions, especially the one you usually sleep in. Spend at least 3-5 minutes on the mattress focusing on the “feel” the longer you spend on the mattress the better as some mattresses can take a few minutes to mold to your body. After selecting your new mattress it is recommended to purchase the matching base to support the mattress, as the two are designed to work best together. In fact, buying the mattress without its matching divan base may affect the terms of the warranty. You should never put a new mattress on an old divan base. Create a sleep sanctuary and routine For the second part of this guide please continue on to the Bed Buying Guide.