How to Know When it’s Time to Buy a New Mattress

When you wake up in the morning, does your back hurt? Do you feel exhausted? Do you have kinks in your neck or mini headaches? It might be your mattress.

Mattress last about 8-10 years and if your mattress is already that old, it's definitely time to bite the bullet and go shopping. Although your mattress might have come with a 15-20 year old warranty, that's for the material, not for the support. Another thing to keep in mind is that a new mattress can help you prevent waking up with shoulder and back pain and stiffness and can also increase the quality of your sleep.

Is your mattress sagging? If you normally sleep on one side, then lay in the middle and see if it's higher there than on either side, if so- you need a new mattress.

Are you sleeping worse than you were a year ago? If you wake up with the sheets twisted around your legs, that's a good sign that you've been tossing and turning in your sleep because you're not comfortable.

When you roll around in your bed, do you hear it creaking or does the bed sway? The wood in the box spring could be losing its support.

If you sleep with someone, is it higher in the middle and the sides? There's a pretty good chance that you've got indentations in your mattress that aren't springing back.

Mattress shopping can be because you’re putting out a lot of money, but in the end if you end up with years of good sleeps, isn’t it worth it? My advice is to shop around. I’ve found that bed frames are bed frames and it doesn’t matter if you buy the expensive or the cheap. Either does the trick. As for mattresses, shop for the best price, but don't cheap out.

[via eHow]