Why you should buy a mattress with your stimulus check

Stimmy. Economic impact payment. Biden bucks. Kamala cash. The bare minimum after a traumatic year of lethal leadership failure. Whatever you want to call it, that stimulus check should be sitting pretty in your bank account by now. (See “What to know about the third stimulus checks,” if not.)

For many people, the money will be going directly into the hands of a landlord or utility company, or — in one of American life’s cruel twists — straight back to the government in the form of a tax bill. (Seems a little sus, but OK.) On the off-chance it’s still scorching a hole in your pocket, though, allow us to make a suggestion: buy yourself a new mattress.

Sure, it’s not as fun as getting a new tattoo or snagging a Playstation 5, if you’re lucky enough to even find one in stock. But it’s definitely possible to get a great bed (and reap the benefits of a better night’s sleep) with the grand or so that Uncle Sam’s doled out — you just have to do a little homework. 

Here’s everything you need to know about shopping for an affordable mattress. (Note: For the purposes of this article, we’ll be looking at queen mattresses, the most common size purchased.)

How can I tell if I need a new mattress?

Is your mattress starting to squeak or creak? Is there a noticeable dip in the middle? Can you feel your butt touching bed slats or box spring when you lay down? Is it covered in questionable stains? Do your dust allergies worsen at night? Does your partner complain that they can feel you tossing and turning? Are you waking up feeling sore and unrested more often than not? Does your couch feel like a cloud in comparison? 

Answering “yes” to any of those questions means your bed is probably nearing the end of its lifespan and ready to be retired to the great mattress farm in the sky. (Used mattresses that are still in decent condition can be donated — otherwise, get in touch with your local recycling center for disposal help so it doesn’t sit in a landfill forever.)

You can get usually seven to ten years of regular use out of the average mattress; beds that are used sparingly in guest rooms or vacation homes will last a little longer. But don’t feel obligated to keep sleeping on yours if you haven’t had it for the better part of a decade — a low-quality mattress will begin to show those warning signs of deterioration way sooner.

What mattress types are less expensive than others?

A budget of $1,400 or less puts you in the low-to mid-range of the queen-sized mattress market, where most of your options are online beds-in-a-box made of polyurethane foam (or polyfoam), memory foam, or a hybrid of foam and innerspring. You’re pretty much priced out of the natural latex, organic, and split/adjustable mattress categories — sorry.

We recommend spending as close to the $1,400 mark as you can, as buying a mattress is very much a “get what you pay for” game where your investment pays off in durability, material quality, comfort, and support. 

How do I choose a good mattress?

Even if you’re not buying a super fancy mattress with lots of bells and whistles, there’s still a lot to consider. Here’s a list of questions you should be asking before purchasing a new bed:

What kind of mattress is it? Regular polyfoam mattresses have a good amount of give to them, but typically feel a bit bouncier than those made with memory foam, which is denser and more conforming — it’ll sink slightly under your body weight. Both kinds of foam mattresses are usually cheaper than hybrid mattresses, the most durable and supportive of the three. (For deeper dives into foam and hybrid beds, click here and here, respectively).

How firm is it? People who prefer to sleep on their sides should look for medium to medium-firm beds for the right balance of squish and support, while back and stomach sleepers will want something on the firmer side for decent spinal alignment. Keep in mind that lightweight sleepers (under 150 pounds or so) are more likely to find a medium mattress too firm, since they don’t sink far enough into the bed for good pressure relief, while heavier sleepers (over 200-ish pounds) will experience the opposite.

We’re trying to stretch your $1,400 as far as possible, here.

How thick is it? Along those same lines, heavier sleepers tend to sleep best on mattresses that are 10 to 12 inches thick — anything thinner and you may bottom out — while lighter sleepers can get away with thinner mattresses around 8 inches deep.

Does it sleep hot or cool? Hybrid construction allows for a bit more airflow than thick slabs of foam, so look for a bed with some springs if you often wake up in a sweaty pile of sheets. Extras like cooling gel-infused foam and heat-wicking fabric covers will also prevent you from overheating at night.

How well does it limit motion transfer? If you share a bed with someone else and don’t want to wake up every time they get up to use the bathroom, try to find a not-too-bouncy bed that’s designed to absorb movements. (Memory foam mattresses are very good at this.)

How bouncy is it? On the flip side, you may actually want a bed with a bit of springiness to it if you spend a good chunk of the night doing… other stuff.

Is there any edge support? A mattress with a some resistance around its perimeter won’t sag as much around the edges, which means you get much more usable sleeping space. (Plus, you’re less likely to tumble onto the floor in the middle of the night.)

Is there any off-gassing? That chemical-y “new mattress” smell, also known as off-gassing, happens when a mattress releases small amounts of gaseous chemicals called volatile organic compounds upon unboxing. (Memory foam mattresses are more prone to off-gassing than other types of beds.) Short-term, low-level exposure to these so-called VOCs isn’t a major health concern, but off-gassing can seriously mess with your indoor air quality, potentially causing headaches and respiratory irritation. Give any new mattress a good week to air out.

Can I try it out in-store before buying? Some bigger bed-in-a-box brands now have brick-and-mortar showrooms where you can feel their mattresses in-person — a huge plus if you’re iffy about plunking down a thousand bucks sight unseen.

Are shipping and returns free? We’re trying to stretch your $1,400 as far as possible, here.

What’s the warranty like? As with any big purchase, make sure you’re protected just in case anything goes wrong with your mattress down the road. Most bed-in-a-box companies offer 10-year limited warranties that cover abnormal deterioration (e.g., visible indentations greater than an inch deep) and physical defects unrelated to normal wear and tear that cause the mattress to crack or split.

Is there a trial period? This is probably the most important factor to consider aside from the mattress’ warranty. Even if you’re able to test out a mattress in-person before bringing it home, you need a good few weeks to break it in and determine exactly how well it sleeps for you on a nightly basis before giving a confident “yea” or “nay.”

How old is the company? Buying a mattress from a well-established company that’s stood the test of time (and cultivated a good reputation along the way) is way less risky than buying one from a scrappy startup. Most bed-in-a-box brands are still under a decade old, unfortunately, meaning they haven’t even been around long enough to see their warranties through — hence the importance of doing due diligence before giving one of them your precious stimulus check.

What is the best time of year to buy a mattress?

For a great deal on a new bed, plan on buying around major holiday weekends — that’s when most mattress companies typically run their best sales. (Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving/Black Friday are the big ones.) We’ll highlight anything worth shopping over on the Mashable Deals page, so go ahead and bookmark it if you don’t feel like visiting a bunch of different websites to compare offers.

What is the best affordable mattress?

To be completely honest with you, it’s difficult to pick a “best affordable mattress” because the definitions of “best” and “comfortable” are both extremely subjective; a mattress that feels perfect to one person may have someone else sleeping miserably. I mean, just check out these two consecutive reviews about the exact same mattress (the Casper Hybrid, our No. 1 pick for back pain relief):

As such, do keep in mind that the following list of recommendations we’ve put together isn’t meant to serve as an end-all, be-all, but rather as a guide to some of the top-rated affordable mattresses out there so you don’t have to start your research from square one. Use it as a jumping-off point for your bed-buying journey, and you’ll be well on your way to a great night’s sleep in no time.

Let’s settle in, shall we? (Again, note that all prices are for a queen-sized mattress.)