HOW MUCH?

Dining out, a mattress or a haircut

When you woke up this morning, how did you feel? Well-rested and full of energy, or like you’d been tossing and turning all night? You might have your mattress to thank.

A good bed can make all the difference when it comes to sleep quality. Not only is sleep vital for good health, but it even has a financial impact. According to a 2017 report, Canada loses just over 80,000 working days a year due to lack of sleep among those who work. What’s more, poor sleep costs the Canadian economy up to $21.4 billion per year.

Economic impact aside, stumbling through the day in a sleepdeprived haze just feels crummy, so it’s no wonder people are willing to pay big money on a com- fortable mattress to help them sleep through the night.

But is that money well spent? If you buy the right mattress, then yes, says Mary Helen Rogers, VP marketing and communications for the Better Sleep Council in Alexandria, Va.

“When it comes to things that have a direct link to your health and well-being, that’s where you want to open up your wallet a little bit and spend a little more.”

Exactly how much more isn’t an easy answer, however. While the average overall retail price of a mattress in Canada is a little less than $800, you can pay anywhere from $140 for a flimsy foam mattress to $8,000 for a foam-and-coil hybrid number with all the bells and whistles.

The good news is that most people can usually get away with paying for a mid-priced mattress, in the $700–$1,800 range. Pay less and you’ll likely get substandard materials and craftsmanship, which will just mean another trip to the mattress store sooner rather than later.

Speaking of which, if you’ve heard that you need to replace your mattress every seven to 10 years, that’s a myth. There’s actually no hard-and-fast rule about how regularly a person needs to swap an old mattress out for a new one. It all depends on how it feels.

Here are a few ways to get the best deal on your mattress the next time you buy one.

Shop online: You obviously can’t test-drive mattresses bought online, but you’ll likely save some cash since these sellers don’t have to pay for retail space. Just be sure there’s a good return policy.

Wait for a sale: Mattress retailers charge a healthy markup so they tend to offer frequent sales. It’s not unheard of to get a new mat- tress at 50 per cent off.

Try haggling: Negotiating at a big-box store like Costco or Walmart probably won’t get you anywhere, but dedicated bed stores and mom-and-pop mattress shop employees will usually be willing to haggle over price. Just be sure to do a little online research first so you can tell a good deal from a bad one.

Say no to box springs: If you’ve already got a box spring and it’s in good shape, save yourself $150 to $300 and keep the one you have. Because mattresses now tend to be thick and sturdy, a box spring is often just for looks, anyway.

Buy right and sleep tight: “A lot of people test mattresses with their butts,” says Rogers. “They sit on it, bounce up and down and rub their hands back and forth on the fabric. Do you sleep on a bare mattress while sitting up? Not likely.”

Instead, take your time. Lie down on your back, stomach and sides for minutes, not seconds.