I know it can be difficult to get by when you live paycheck to paycheck, but this doesn’t mean you always have to go for the lowest price tag. When it comes to your health and work productivity, you should never be stingy!

Regardless of our social status and bank account, we all need sleep to stay healthy and function at optimum parameters. This is a scientifically proven fact and there is no way around it! The brain uses this downtime to flush out toxins, repair muscle tissue, and create memories, which results in an improved decision-making process and mental sharpness.

So, if you ever hope to get out of the slump you’re currently in, you should never buy a cheap mattress! However, this doesn’t mean you should aim for the most expensive products. There are products that are both affordable and pack good features, like these cheap mattresses, but they may be a bit more difficult to dig out from the multitude of products.

To help you out, below you can learn about the features that make a difference and why you should always look for them in a good mattress.

Cooling System

The most affordable material on the market is foam (memory or regular). Now, this material is known to retain body heat, which usually leads to increased temperatures while you’re in slumber.

The ideal sleeping temperature is at about 18 degrees Celsius 64.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and if the mattress heats up, you’ll wake up sweaty and downright uncomfortable. As you wake up during the night, your body won’t be able to get a full 90 minutes cycle, meaning you might not reach deep stages of sleep at all. These are important for the brain, and you may wake up feeling drowsy, stiff, and possibly in pain.

So, before you decide to get a new foam mattress that features a fantastic price, make sure to check for a cooling system. This can be anything from cooling gels to graphite insertions. There are air foam mattresses on the market that outperform many of the older materials.

Back Support

Most mattresses today have a layered inner-structure to create both comfort and keep the spine in alignment. For this, the structure starts with layers for cushioning (memory foam or wool), continues with layers for support and ventilation, and ends up with a base, made of high-density foam that provides durability and spine alignment.

Each layer has a different level of density and they complement each other as you lie on the bed. But, if the inner layers are not designed with high-density foam, you’ll just sink into the layers. This may feel good at first (it’s soft), but after a few nights, you’ll start waking up with back pain and stiffness in the shoulders and the lower back.

The pain can be easily avoided if you get a good mattress and implement a few tricks recommended by specialists.

Responsiveness

Somehow connected with density, responsiveness is the time it takes a surface to respond to pressure. For instance, low-quality memory foam mattresses that don’t have gel insertions will take longer to return to the initial shape, which creates the ‘stuck in sand’ sensation.

A good mattress needs to respond fast, which is why the first layer should always be designed with high-quality foam or even natural latex.  This won’t add too much to the final price because the top layer is usually thin, but it makes a huge difference in terms of comfort.

Hypoallergenic Elements

Finally, a cheap mattress is not equipped to deal with bed bugs and dust mites, and, as the time goes by, it will create a health hazard inside. But, a good mattress has several defense systems to keep these creepy crawlies at bay and maintain a hypoallergenic surface that won’t put you in allergy hell every time you go to sleep.

As you can see, the features that matter the most aren’t expensive materials, but well-thought characteristics designed to make your sleep better.