To all those lovers of sleep out there... I need your guidance about my mattress.

What is the current condition of the mattress? If it’s shaped like a soup bowl, it’s probably worth investing in a replacement in the long run. Selecting a new mattress can be a real hassle. They fall under what I call The Goldilocks Syndrome where one can be too hard, one can be too soft, and then there is the one that is just right for you. You have to be wary of other people’s opinions of what they recommend, because it not might be the right fit for you.

If the existing mattress is still in relatively decent condition, a mattress topper is the most cost-effective way to go. Also, make sure the mattress is flipped and rotated every four months. It helps to reduce wear in one spot. If you have a box spring, that should be rotated every 6 months.

Invest in a silent night mattress, mine is over ten years old & still as comfortable as ever….so long as you get them sanitized regularly they should be good for half a lifetime…. :-)

Surely the deliver guys will do all the lifting!?

I dunno about a topper. I bought a Mattress in a box and it’s associated bed frame.

The mattress came in a box with wheels so hauling it up three flights of stairs would have been easy, had I been able to fit it in the car.

www.usmattresses.com has great prices. I got a serta mattress that I love more than my sleep number bed. probably because I love my aunt and uncles bedroom set, but…..

I also love air mattresses.

@mrentropy: How do you like it?

@Pied_Pfeffer: I don’t think it’s that bad…

You could try placing a sheet of plywood (¼” or 3/8”) between the mattress and box spring. That will increase the firmness to some degree.

@JubalHarshaw: No, it’s definitely the springs. Besides, I don’t have a box spring; I have a platform bed which takes the place of it.

If you’ve tried (and liked) foam in the past, I think it’s worth a try. It’s way cheaper than a new mattress and will easily fit up the stairs.

I had pretty good luck with a topper like that for a while but wound up taking it off because my back starting hurting me. But then I have a bad back—you might not have the trouble I did. At any rate, I think it’s worth a try for a lot less money than a good mattress is going to cost.

Matress buying is_such_ a drag… I feel for ya.

Look in the paper for beds for sale. Sometimes you can get a deal on an excellent bed.

I have a Sleep Number that I like because I can adjust the settings for the circumstances. I’m getting that you don’t want to spend that much, but maybe some kind of air mattress would help you . I once made do with two swimming rafts, side by side with a foam topper. Good luck!

@poofandmook I actually like it a lot. I haven’t had any problems with it and my back isn’t flaring in pain. So, so far so good.

As a bonus, it’s cool watching it uncompress.

Please be very cautious if you decide to look into used mattresses. The U.S. is experiencing a growing increase in bed bugs, to the point where it is being called an epidemic, and we aren’t the only country with the problem. (There are several posts on Fluther regarding this, if anyone wants more information. I don’t want to cause this thread get side-tracked.)

@Pied_Pfeffer: Oh, there is no way in hell I’d ever use a used mattress… even before the bed bug epidemic… unless maybe it was from a close family member who bought it new.

I buy used mattress’ from the No Tell Motel down the street all the time.

@mrentropy: scratch your head a lot, too? ;)

@poofandmook A bit. Depending on which one you mean. They also have a selection of sheets for cheap.

@mrentropy: crispy?

Kinda stiff, yeah, but nothing a hammer and some beatin’ can’t fix :)

IKEA = Good inexpensive mattress