<p>My daughter, who has been insisting all summer that her off-campus apartment has a bed for her, arrived last night to discover there is no bed. </p>
<p>What advice would you give your child to buy a mattress/boxspring that needs to last 9 months and then will (most likely) be abandoned/sold? Given the bed-bug issue (just read a few scary articles about that), would you go with used on Craigslist? I don’t think she has access to a van/truck. And we don’t want to spend a lot of money, either. But I don’t want her sleeping on something with no support that will aggravate her back problem.</p>
<p>I’m no expert on buying mattresses, so I’m not sure what to say. </p>
<p>(I am amused, btw. She insisted she had a bed. She insisted that she didn’t need our help to move her in. OK, fine. I haven’t asked, but I also assume the room has no other furniture, either.)</p>
<p>Our kiddos bought used beds from people they KNEW. But I think it might be a little late for your D to do so. If there is an Ikea nearby, she can get a somewhat inexpensive platform bed and a foam mattress for a reasonable price (assembly required for the platform). </p>
<p>You could check where she lives for places that offer same day delivery of a new bed. Go with an inexpensive twin set and get a GOOD thick mattress pad.</p>
<p>Ditto on the Ikea recommendation. You can get an inexpensive bed and mattress from Ikea. Son had to do it last night. You don’t need a box spring, you can have a foam mattress on slats. (Slept on that for years.)</p>
<p>If she is getting her own mattress- she doesn’t need to get extra long</p>
<p>YOu would be amazed at how long cheap mattresses last & she can either get a metal frame @ costco ( - adjustable sizing & they deliver) or probably from Ikea ( they don’t)
Or put it on 2X4s- thats what everybody does.</p>
<p>If she wants a little more time to find something- they have really nice airbeds for camping out now- same size as mattresses/take sheets and when she gets a real mattress, she can use it for guests.</p>
<p>I would get something from Costco or Target. The problem with a foam mattress is that they require a platform (unless you put in on the floor) which is usually a much bigger thing than a metal frame which you can scrap or easily pass on.</p>
<p>The Ikea platforms are slats that roll up. </p>
<p>If you want to go really cheap one summer I slept on a mattress that was on cardboard on top of a lot of cinderblocks. It worked surprisingly well!</p>
<p>How about an air bed? It’s inexpensive and very portable and when she’s done with it you/she can use it as an extra guest bed or something. I don’t know how comfortable they are though.</p>
<p>She doesn’t have a car, so she can’t get to Costco or Ikea, both of which are more than 50 miles away. I looked on the Costco website, and didn’t see any great deals on Sealy twins. She doesn’t need a bedframe – putting the mattress and boxspring on the floor will do. </p>
<p>nngmm: if that’s just the price for the mattress – does she need a boxspring? Or just put on the floor? </p>
<p>And what are the relative merits of a memory foam vs. a standard mattress?</p>
<p>If she didn’t have back problems, I’d suggest a futon, too. My concern with getting a really cheap mattress is its impact on her back.</p>
<p>Target prices seem high to me (and its website really frustrating). </p>
<p>We found a local store that can deliver a mattress and boxspring for under $200 ($150 for twin) – I just worry about how bad that cheap mattress will be.</p>
<p>pelotero…this student is living off campus and needs a bed. </p>
<p>That twin bed mattress and box spring delivered sound like a good deal…and quick. Just make sure she gets a really good and thick mattress pad…we have found that makes all the difference even on the expensive beds.</p>
<p>Re: the difference between memory foam and the others…memory foam is MUCH more expensive in most cases.</p>
<p>Thumper1: She’s got a featherbed topper, and a mattress pad, so I suppose she should be OK. (Although those are both twin size, and she’s thinking of getting a full. If she gets a full, then she’s got to pay for the new pad and sheets.)</p>
<p>Sounds like she has all the linens for the twin…remind her how much the linens will cost…they are NOT a bargain these days. She may change her mind. Also the cost of the twin bed has to be less than a double.</p>
<p>the prices are for the mattress only. you can put it on the floor. or you can by a bed frame i linked above from Walmart on line ($90 + $10 delivery fee)</p>
<p>if she gets a memory foam mattress, she does not need a mattress pad, but I’d recommend getting a water-proof cover (a breathable kind, not a plastic one)</p>
