“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.Lots of people have difficulty sleeping through the night because of physical discomfort—their bed might be too lumpy, or too hot, or firm where it should be plush. can help: they solve comfort issues at a fraction of the cost of a new mattress. They also protect your mattress, adding years to its functional life. So if you’re looking to take the plunge into a cozy night's sleep, start by asking yourself: which of the following is most important to you? If cloud-like comfort matters most to you, consider this the crème de la crème of mattress toppers. A feather bed cushions your body with several inches of soft down that you can feel yourself sinking into as you drift off to dreamland.
If dust allergies require you to wash your bedding more frequently, feather beds can also be stuffed with a down-alternative fill that’s easier to clean. conform to the body, even when two people are sleeping side-by-side. So if you and your partner can’t come to an agreement on a new mattress, a memory foam topper may broker a peace. It relieves pressure points and supports spinal alignment individually, so you or your partner both get support where you need it most. If temperature control is also important to you, consider upgrading to gel memory foam, which adjusts to your body temperature and channels away excess heat. Look for a mattress pad made of cotton—the thin, breathable natural fibers help improve airflow, so you aren’t drenched in sweat by sunrise. Along with being a breeze to wash, natural fabrics also extend the life of your mattress by protecting against common allergens such as dust mites. What’s more, thin padding boosts comfort, even if you’re already happy with the firmness of your bed.
A mattress protector that zips around the entire mattress will keep your bed clean, dry, and safe from bedbugs. In short, it's the best level of protection you can give your mattress. And since they’re machine-washable, caring for them is a snap. If you’re fond of snacking in bed, drinking wine in bed, or even cooking an elaborate paella in bed, a waterproof mattress pad makes sure you leave no forensic evidence behind, keeping your mattress clean and odor-free. If you’re a parent, consider this a must for your children. When shopping for a mattress topper, make sure your sheets are deep enough to cover the mattress and the topper together. For mattress pads and protectors, measure the depth of your mattress to ensure a good fit that doesn’t strain the zipper or straps. Buying a Mattress Without Trying the MattressBuying a mattress is cheaper and more convenient if you do it online—but you'll need to understand your personal preferences and delivery options first.