New bed or just add a mattress pad?

[coolred]

I am debating about buying a new bed(everything, mattress/box springs/frame) or maybe just adding a mattress pad or some type of topper. I have no idea what type of bed it is or how old it is. I know its at least 10 year sold, maybe more. The Box springs appear to be stearns and foster, but they are the worst looking part of it, just kinda falling apart a little, but they do still work. The mattress seems okay, but is devoid of any manufacturer info. I would guess it is as old as the box springs. I sleep fine on it at night I think. My wife doesn't complain much.

But it is only a full size, its old, it is slightly falling apart, and it takes me forever to get to sleep on it at night. And I wake up still tired(not sure if this is the fault of the bed or me just not getting enough sleep). I get about 6 to maybe 8 hours of sleep a night, sometimes a bit less if it takes me a while to get to sleep. I put down an extra blanket I had and folded it over just to add some extra padding and this seemed to help me sleep better for a couple weeks, but now I am not sure if it is still working for me.

Also the frame for the bed has picked up a nasty squeak, its not enough to wake me up at night, but it is annoying when i am trying to find a position to fall asleep in. Also it is just a headboard, foot board and then 2 side rails. So we have to use some wood slats to support the box springs and mattress. We cut the slats to the width of the frame, but I didn't realize that the box springs seems to stick out more in the center then the sides, so it bows the slats and over time the slats can fall off the frame and eventually cause the bed to fall to the floor which is kinda annoying. As long as I keep positioning it once a month or so its fine.

So I am thinking it would be a good idea to just buy a while new set, that way we get something new, we can get a bigger bed and just a better setup in general. I know we spend a third of our lives in bed, but I don't have a huge issue with the quality of sleep I am getting now. So I am wondering if I shoul just added soem sort of topper for now and see how that works. But I don't want to spend the cash on that and then decide that a new bed is the better bet. Also if I do go with a whole new setup, I can't see spending more then like 800-1000 max. I would prefer even less, but as I said earlier we do spend 1/3 of our lives in bed, so why skimp. But I can't see myself spending several grand like some people. Not that i see anything wrong with that, I just don't have that kinda cash. I don't have much cash at all. If I get a whole new set it will likely be financed, but i should be able to pay it off in under 6 months for sure. SO what do you think?

 

[skrilla]

Five years ago I bought a queen size pillow-top mattress/ box spring for $799 and it was probably one of the best investments I have ever made. I love my bed. If I were you I would just get a whole new set and upgrade to queen. Full is a bit small for 2 people in my opinion.

New beds are so comfortable nowadays and there are a lot of options...pillow-top/latex/that stuff nasa developed i forget what its called.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: coolred
it is only a full size

So I am thinking it would be a good idea to just buy a while new set, that way we get something new, we can get a bigger bed
SO what do you think?

cliffs ^^^

buy a new queen set, only tiny couples should be sleeping on a full size bed or single people

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: coolred
it is only a full size

So I am thinking it would be a good idea to just buy a while new set, that way we get something new, we can get a bigger bed
SO what do you think?

cliffs ^^^

buy a new queen set, only tiny couples should be sleeping on a full size bed or single people

Well we are pretty small, but very short, and both under 200 pounds

 

[nakedfrog]

3" memory foam topper on top of a cheap new queen or king size bed.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
3" memory foam topper on top of a cheap new queen or king size bed.

So did you vote for just the mattress topper? Or did you not vote?

 

[DrPizza]

My wife wanted a feather topper... It was the most comfortable thing in the world to sleep on... for a few months. Then, it became sort of... lumpy. The feather's aren't distributed as evenly through it. Fluffing it up seems to be less and less effective. A lot of the feathers migrated into one "stripe" on my side of the bed... it was like having a great big thick fluffy thing under part of my back, and nothing under the rest of my back. Quite uncomfortable.

 

[DrPizza]

Oh, and for what it's worth, get an all-new bed. You're nuts to have a full sized bed for 2 people. (I love my king-sized bed...)

 

[doze]

At least get yourself a queen, when upgrading from a full size the difference is huge. My ex and I slept on a full for over a year, and when we finally got the queen I slept so much better.

 

[db]

If you put cake on top of crap, you are sleeping on crap.
Buy a new bed. Decide what kind of bed you like: ie, firm, very firm, soft, pillow top, etc.
Spend time on different displays, take you time b/c you will live with your decision for a long time.
It's hard to compare beds from dealer to dealer, b/c even though most of them come from only a few manufacturers, they have different names for the same product, so it's very hard to compare and shop for price. If you google you might find a conversion matrix that shows what brand name models are really the same, so you can shop for price once you decide on a bed you like.

 

[KarenMarie]

We got a XL king Sterns & Foster. Paid a little of $3,000 for the mattress and boxspring. I have never slept better in my life.

With the amount of time spent on it, a bed it so important. Especially for those like me with insomnia problems. I would drive a cheap car, but never a skimp on a bed.

after 10years, i would guess it is time for a new one.

 

[Conky]

Last month I got a new memory foam mattress and I haven't slept this good in years. New bed FTW.

 

[Staples]

Beds are over rated. Any decent one is fine. No need to spend a ton of money on them. People lose sleep because there are things on their mind, not because their bed is uncomfortable.

 

[coolred]

Well I just happened to be in sears the other day and decided to take a quick look at thier mattresses. I didn't take a lot of time, but i did lay down in a few. I definately think I prefer a softer bed. Not sure if i would want firm with some sort of pillow or foam topper. Or if I would want to go super soft with a plush bed and the same topper

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: Staples
Beds are over rated. Any decent one is fine. No need to spend a ton of money on them. People lose sleep because there are things on their mind, not because their bed is uncomfortable.

We just picked up a $1600 Sealy set last week with pocketed coils and memory foam pillowtop. I haven't slept this well in years, and my back doesn't hurt when I get up anymore. You can definitely tell the difference between this and a $200-300 mattress. Even if it only lasts eight years, I'm only spending $200/y.

 

[coolred]

Yeah i am starting to like my current set less and less. Although I did manage to fix the squeak in the frame for the mos tpart.

 

[coolred]

Where are some good places to buy mattress sets?

 

[astrocase]

If you need a new bed, go to Costco. If you want to be a penny pincher, get the stats on the costco beds and then pricematch/beat them to a local store. That's if you like Sealy. Sterns is Sealy's luxury brand.

Beds last about 10 years. If you have a high quality Sterns bed a bit more. Based on what you're going through though that bed is done. Most people replace their beds a few years after it's already gone to hell and you're no different.

You gotta replace the boxes as well. A new mattress on old boxes will basically cut the life in half. Also, not all mattresses use box springs like Sterns. Simmons uses rigid platform boxes. You can put a sterns on those but not visa versa.

You should try to find a good mattress store with good staff first. Let them teach you about beds and let you try out all the different ones. Then if you're into Sealy match it to Costco or check out us-matress.com online and use their price at a local store.

Personally I love Stearns. I have two. Just make sure you get the right amount of padding for you. The way it works is you want firm back support (the springs) but enough padding to make you happy. A stearns bed gives rock hard back support but they can be really soft on top. That way you get the best of both worlds. They're expensive though.

Also, replace your pillows regularely. Pillows really only provide the support you need for about a year, year and half. Maybe as little as 6 months. If you go a couple years on pillow you'll feel it. I'm getting new ones this weekend. I think they provide around 20% of your back support.

 

[astrocase]

And mattress toppers?

Temporary solution. Waste of money if you ask me since you should be putting that towards a new bed.

 

[BoomerD]

Something I learned at an early age:
Two things you should NEVER cheap-out on...your work shoes/boots, and your mattress.
You spend way too much time in one, and not nearly enough in the other...

Buy a QUALITY mattress that fits your body and sleeping style. You won't regret the cost...

 

[astrocase]

Lots of places offer a year or even 18 months financing interest free. Look at the ads. If you've got the credit then finance it.

 

[coolred]

Originally posted by: astrocase
If you need a new bed, go to Costco. If you want to be a penny pincher, get the stats on the costco beds and then pricematch/beat them to a local store. That's if you like Sealy. Sterns is Sealy's luxury brand.

Beds last about 10 years. If you have a high quality Sterns bed a bit more. Based on what you're going through though that bed is done. Most people replace their beds a few years after it's already gone to hell and you're no different.

You gotta replace the boxes as well. A new mattress on old boxes will basically cut the life in half. Also, not all mattresses use box springs like Sterns. Simmons uses rigid platform boxes. You can put a sterns on those but not visa versa.

You should try to find a good mattress store with good staff first. Let them teach you about beds and let you try out all the different ones. Then if you're into Sealy match it to Costco or check out us-matress.com online and use their price at a local store.

Personally I love Stearns. I have two. Just make sure you get the right amount of padding for you. The way it works is you want firm back support (the springs) but enough padding to make you happy. A stearns bed gives rock hard back support but they can be really soft on top. That way you get the best of both worlds. They're expensive though.

Also, replace your pillows regularely. Pillows really only provide the support you need for about a year, year and half. Maybe as little as 6 months. If you go a couple years on pillow you'll feel it. I'm getting new ones this weekend. I think they provide around 20% of your back support.

No Costco here in Ohio

 

[astrocase]

Then us-mattress.com is your friend. Stores do pricematch. Just make sure you don't tell the sales person until you get to the register.

 

[BoomerD]

http://www.mattress.com/?gclid=CLGj2def9oQCFQFgDgodJFcjAw (1800mattres)

 

[Old Hippie]

It's hard to compare beds from dealer to dealer, b/c even though most of them come from only a few manufacturers, they have different names for the same product, so it's very hard to compare and shop for price.

I'm from Ohio and investigated this about 2 yrs. ago. This quote is the absolute truth. I haven't tried toppers.