So I’ve been known to take saving money a little bit too far sometimes.
Case in point: my double-bed duvet that’s been used on my queen-sized bed for the past ten-ish years.
Now to be fair, for the vast majority of that time, there was only one person in the bed! And a double-bed duvet is more than enough duvet for one person.
But two people?
One of whom has a tendency to roll over and take the blankets with them?
(Ahem. It’s not me.)
Let’s just say it’s not a recipe for happy, stress-free mornings.
There may or may not have been a recent morning where I woke up, coverless, at 4AM and couldn’t get back to sleep before a giant day at work. Let me tell you, there’s nothing like lying awake for two hours when you could have been having perfectly wonderful hours of sleep instead to make you realize that you need to buy a new damn duvet already.
So I took a look at my options. While a good night’s sleep isn’t priceless to me – I know, because I have a friend who just dropped $4000 on a mattress, and that’s Too Much For Sleep – it’s definitely valuable.
The options boiled down to a down duvet or a microfibre / synthetic duvet.
Down Duvet
Pros: Feels like you’re sleeping under a warm cloud of love.
Cons: Lots of expensive dead ducks.
To be entirely honest, my existing double-bed duvet is filled with duck down, and it’s lovely. Warm and fluffy and perfect for snuggling under. Even though it’s the most expensive option by far, with the entriest of entry-level king-sized duvets starting at around $200, at the end of the day I don’t think I can justify using animal by-products when there’s a synthetic option available.
Ducks are way better alive and quacking and blocking traffic in the winter (true story from my old apartment, it was classic.)
Microfibre or Synthetic
Pros: Warm and lightweight, nothing died, and reasonably priced.
Cons: Different textures based on the material – and nothing feels like dead duck.
Science has done some cool things, you guys, but I have to say I rate advances in warming technology pretty highly on my personal “Thanks, Science!” list.
I have a winter coat filled with Primaloft, a synthetic material, and it’s held up in the epic Ottawa winters. We’re talking -40 C here. I’ve put that jacket through its paces.
So yeah, synthetic options are high on my sleeping-option list. Plus, they’re way more cost-effective than down duvets! Everyone wins.
Especially the ducks.
With the ducks in mind, I started to research synthetic duvet options. As with most budget-minded home purchases, almost all roads led to Ikea. Taylor from The Freedom from Money had an awesome suggestion to check out TJ Maxx, but alas, I’m hours away from the U.S. border, so barring other options, to Ikea I went!
I dragged The Boyfriend with me for company, commentary and opinions, and we had a grand old time. We poked around the showroom opining on sinks (I prefer porcelain, he prefers stainless steel) and couches (I like a soft couch, he’s on Team Firm) and a whole host of other items. We eventually made it to the sleep section and spent an inordinate amount of time evaluating our three “mid-warmth” options.
Finally, we went with the king-sized RÖDTOPPA duvet, for a grand total of $99.00 plus tax. It’s a synthetic fill, so no dead ducks in sight, and it’s warm enough for me while not totally roasting The Boyfriend, who runs warm. (You know, one of my big takeaways here is that we’re not all that compatible when it comes to Ikea. You’d think this would be a bigger red flag than it is…)
While this feels steep – especially in a month where I’ll be lucky to surpass a 30% savings rate, thanks to that surprise traffic ticket, renewing my license plate and early Christmas gifts – when it comes down to it, it’s a small price to pay for being well rested.
Sleep isn’t something you should be cheap about, friends, and not replacing that duvet earlier? That was me being cheap.
Frugality is, as always, important and recommended! But when you value sleep as much as I do – I’m pretty much known for my insistence on an early, consistent bedtime – not spending to stay warm and fight-free at night is just silly.
Have you ever waited too long on an important purchase? I can’t be the only one to put “saving money” ahead of other, more important things by accident / stubbornness!
So, a couple things (actually three). First, congrats on your duvet purchase! Being well-rested is indeed important. Second, I have been putting off buying new rain boots for a while now, even though my current rain boots are really doing very little to keep my feet dry, and the duct tape I’ve been using to patch the holes is starting to look ridiculous. So I should probably get on that. Third, I am a little embarrassed to admit that before reading this I had never ever given a single thought to how these feathers get from a bird to a duvet/jacket. But now that I’ve read this post and spent a few minutes googling it, I think I may need to not buy any more down stuff. Yikes. Thanks for the info, and the Primaloft recommendation.
Thanks Sarah! Honestly, I had never really thought about how the feathers in my perfect, cloud-like cover got there either before I really started to think about this purchase. The only thing that really got me to start thinking about it was a few posts I’ve seen that call into question Canada Goose’s animal treatment practices, specifically for their fur hood lining. So I mean, take it ALL with a grain of salt – especially since I’m not over here giving up meat or anything. I just figure that when the choice is pretty straightforward like this, I might as well do what’s best for the ducks AND my wallet! I’ve been researching doing the same with skincare products, and buying from brands that don’t test on animals when the switch isn’t exorbitantly expensive – I’ll probably do a post about that with more detail later!
And re: rain boots, have you tried SuperGlue? I read a few posts about how to fix my beloved, gifted Hunter boots, which have cracked after years of wear. I can’t justify replacing them with another pair of Hunters, because my god they’re expensive boots, but I do really love them.
Like, so much so that I might just wear them in not-rain if the fix doesn’t work. Suuuuuper rational, I know.
My back and my shoes. This is maybe a month after that blog post, and I’ve finally pulled the trigger on four pairs of shoes, because I was waiting to sell/donate the pairs that make me hobble. I still feel a smidge of guilt knowing I ate up so much of the “spending” money this month. But Mr. P feels like he won big since I’m not whiny and pleading for back rubs constantly.
And we’re headed into year three of marriage living within 10 minutes of IKEA. He hates it every time we go 😉
I remember the hobble shoes and thought about that post while I was writing this! I’m so glad you got new ones that are working for you, even though I totally get the guilt thing. There’s probably a post in there somewhere – or at least a series of tweets showcasing your new kicks!
Your IKEA point is very reassuring, lol. It’s funny, we both really like going, and we’re both so non-confrontational that even a fundamental difference in how we see basically every item there usually just results in both of us giving in, lol. It’s probably hilarious to listen to, though, because every conversation starts out like a huge disagreement, and I’m sure if I was eavesdropping I’d be all “Fight! Fight! Fight!”
But then we just drop it, because it’s not like we’re buying sinks anyways, haha. I’m sure we drive IKEA-people-watchers nuts.
Glad to hear you saved the ducks. They’re so cute and cuddly. Hmmmm…I guess that’s why they ended up in duvets.
I’m having the same dilemma but with my mattress, which at this point is about 10 years old and, being a pillow-top, has lost all its firmness and I think is contributing to my mild back discomfort during the day. I just refuse to spend so much money like your friend on a mattress. I value my sleep very much, but my head spins when I see 2 million options with prices ranging from $200 to $10,000. I’m thinking about one of these cool and affordable options like Casper. I wonder if those are any good?
This is actually step one in an eventual mattress purchase for me too, which is why we got the king-sized duvet! My mattress is OLD, like, I got it in middle school old, and will eventually need to be replaced. I started saving $100 a month to replace it next summer, and I’ve looked at Casper as well as IKEA and some of the big box stores, which are rumoured to have really great sales if you time it right (i.e. Black Friday, Boxing Day, etc.)
With Casper, I just don’t know if I have the guts to buy a mattress – even one with a stellar reputation and return policy! – online. I just don’t think I’m that brave, haha. Plus, to be totally honest, it’s about double the price of an IKEA mattress, which I tried in the store and really enjoyed. That said, I’ve heard nothing but good things, so they must be doing something right! And it’s not like their mattresses are exorbitantly priced either. I think if getting the mattress delivered in a manageable size is important, Casper might be a solid option.
Also, if you do go that route: keep me posted! I’d be so interested to hear about it.
Now that my parents are getting a little older, they are constantly trying to get a better night of sleep. They actually have started staying in specific hotels to try out new mattresses. They are currently considering $6K mattress. In light of that, I think $100 duvet is a good choice.
Hahaha oh my gosh, that’s a BRILLIANT idea! You should let them know that some hotel chains will sell gently used, usually really high end beds and mattresses – which, to be honest, I had entirely forgotten about but should really look into! I just remembered because if they like a specific bed at a specific hotel, they might be able to get exactly that for a great deal (plus the cost of … whatever professional cleaning service cleans mattresses. Dry cleaners?) It might be beyond some people’s comfort zone, but if they’re up for it, it’s an option! (If they have $6k for a mattress they’re probably beyond used-mattress stage eh?)
PS. Oh my gosh I love your blog. I’m happy we connected!
There is a difference between being frugal and being cheap. It is all about value for your money. I buy expensive shoes (like $100 flats!), but I wear the shit out of them and they do wonders for my tired feet. Thats good value to me vs buying 5 $20 flats throughout the year and having sore feet as well!
I couldn’t agree more! There is for sure a difference – I just need to remind myself when I find myself on the wrong side of the frugal-cheap dichotomy, lol. Shoes are a big one too – for me, it’s winter boots, since I’m out in the cold walking the dog 2 to 3 times a day, even on the coldest days. My feet get cold and STAY cold, so I’m happy to pay more for the really good boots. My Sorels and I are tight.
I LOVE IKEA and go there anytime we leave the state (We don’t have one). I’m glad their duvet works wonders for you. 🙂 Just don’t buy their sheets. They’re cheap and cute, but horribly rough.
I think I’m learning that the hard way with the duvet cover we got, haha. A few washes later it’s a lot better, but if it was our sheets I’ crawl out of my skin. I’m sorry it sounds like you learned this the hard way too!
Also, with unlimited funds I would straight up live in an IKEA dream house. No fancier furniture for me. Just IKEA and IKEA hacks and mayyyybe a really cushy couch (I find most of their to be pretty stiff.)
I’m glad to hear you took the leap to invest in a better night’s sleep! I definitely think this is one of the categories that’s deserving since your health hinges on the amount of sleep hours you put in. I definitely wait wayyy long periods of times for purchases (to the point where I potentially drive myself, or my fiancé crazy). It’s just I like to carry out the “wait 24-hour before I purchase” rule. It allows me evaluate any & all options, where I can get the best deal, what’s the value of the purchase, etc. I actually just went through this for our bed as well! We have a pretty old mattress and I just kept getting restless nights of sleep (in college I had one of those inexpensive memory foam TwinXL pads – but still loved it)! We just can’t think of splurging on a new mattress just yet because we have so many other goals we would rather accomplish first. After a full year, I finally found a deal for $99 on a Queen memory foam pad and went for it. It’s been about a week now and my fiancé & I have been absolutely snoozing like babies with this thing. Now maybe this wasn’t the most important purchase, but I look at the amount of deep sleep nights we will get in return and I’m pretty excited about it!
That’s an awesome bed solution! This is the first step in my eventual bed replacement plan – I’ve had mine since middle school, so it’s done its time! – and I remember the joys of memory foam when I lived in dorms, haha. For the first week in my freshman year I didn’t sleep AT ALL on the awful plastic mattress they had, but the addition of memory foam made a world of difference! I loved that thing – so much that I think a single-sized memory foam might be in order if we err on the firm side for our new mattress! I like a cushy sleep, what can I say, lol. I’m really glad to hear it solved your issues!
And honestly, after the joy of not fighting over covers, I definitely put purchases that support sleep wayyyy up there on my important spending list!
Like you, I can’t imagine spending $4000 on a mattress. Mine gave out on me a little while back actually, and my back would hurt as soon as I got out of bed to the point of where I gave up and got rid of it. Instead of buying a new one though, I opted to get rid of my bed frame entirely since I wanted to see if sleeping on the floor really would make your back stop hurting. It took 2 days and my back hasn’t been an issue since, and I actually prefer it this way, because now I have waaay more room. I also find it a bit easier to get up (no miracles though) It’s a bit unconventional, most people are baffled when I tell them about my setup but I don’t see it as being too cheap for a new mattress/bed because it works for me, and if I were to go the bed route again, I’d have no problem spending more to get something that would last and was good quality.
I have wanted to get a new duvet though as mines gotten pretty old, so thanks for the Ikea recommendation.
I’m definitely of the group that will spend for important things and save on others.
That’s such an interesting solution Rue, I’m so glad it works for you! As long as you’re happy, it definitely doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks 🙂
And yes to spending on things that matter! I’m totally with you on that one. Let me know if you go the IKEA route! I like that in their showroom they have all the duvets out on a rack type thing for you to actually feel, it made the decision process much easier.
I have a synthetic double duvet and then, because I like it a lot warmer than my other half, another one just for myself – one side is made of this soft chenille and the other sheep skin. It`s the loveliest blanket I ever had and was about £15.00 at Costco. (only large enough for one person, though)
Oh man I didn’t even think about Costco as an option! I’m still new to membership so I keep forgetting to look there, haha. Your blanket sounds amazing, and I’ll probably look into something similar for my side of the bed – thank you for the suggestion!
My husband and I also like different warmth ratings for the duvet. Next time we need to replace our king sized one, I am actually considering buy two twin sized duvets and stitching them together down the center to create his-and-hers sides!
So glad you both found a duvet you love. And I SO agree about the ducks remaining alive 😮 Not only is the synthetic option cheaper, it’s also happier for the cute ducks, haha. I’m glad to know that Ikea has such good options for cheap! (But boo for no TJ Maxx across the border! hah)
So here’s a weird American confession: most Americans don’t use duvets. They use comforters instead. My partner is British so I’ve become a convert and it’s made life SO much better. With a comforter, you have to wash the entire thing and it’s a total nightmare. Duvets are far superior, but I thought you might be interested to know because my partner was appalled when I tried to buy one for us, hahah.
Hahaha Taylor this is probably totally not what happened, but I have this image in my head of your British partner patiently – and Britishly – explaining that no, duvets are way better, and please just stop it with this comforter nonsense. Even if this isn’t even close to what happened, which it probably isn’t, it’s a hilarious mental picture, so thank you!
I’ve never minded comforters when I go to visit family in Upstate New York, where they’re definitely the prevalent cover option, but I’ve never had to deal with the laundry side of the equation, so I totally see your point!
Glad you found what you were looking for and got a good price on it! I’ve never had a duvet. Probably better to not know what I’m missing!
>> Have you ever waited too long on an important purchase? I can’t be the only one to put “saving money” ahead of other, more important things by accident / stubbornness!
Shoes, without question. My only motivation to purchase new ones is when they are literally falling apart. A few months back, I had a Vibram sole come off during a day hike (not comfortable getting gravel under your sock with every step). Most recently, the rubber soles on my around-town sneakers had worn through all the way to the fabric. As soon as the rainy season started, I got tired of wet socks every time I left the house and finally picked up some new ones.
Thanks Matt!
I’m glad you picked up new shoes! I remember going without rain boots for wayyyy too long in a climate where we have some very, very wet months in the spring, what with all of our buckets of snow melting. I literally ended up crying about my cold wet feet one day, because I was a poor student who waited way too long to buy rain boots, but after that I caved and bought some, and life has been pretty great since, haha. I’m glad your feet are happy and dry now!
We bought a super cheap mattress several years ago and it led to many, MANY nights of horrible sleep. We got a new mattress last year (maybe this year? I can’t remember) and it has GREATLY improved our sleep. I can’t believe how much better we sleep now.
That’s awesome, Michelle! I’m so happy to hear you guys found a better mattress – I’m looking into a new mattress this summer to replace a much-loved but ultimately really old one, and I’m taking it So Seriously. This will be the first mattress I buy for myself and you’re right – it’s such a key part of sleep!
Hahaha this whole post just made my day. I personally am allergic to duck feathers (and everything in the entire world so I should probably live in a bubble), so I have always had a synthetic duvet. And I love it! I’ve had no problems with sleep, so you should be fine I promise.
I am one to wait for small purchases rather than large. I’ll wait weeks and even months to buy new beauty products, clothing that has ripped, and basically anything I don’t see as a true and earth-grown need. I’ll survive a few weeks without mascara, so long as people still recognize me. It’s an uphill battle but this post definitely spoke to me. Spirit sister.
Oh my god waiting for mascara purchases is my JAM. I’m pretty sure that there’s nothing coming out of my current tube of mascara, even as I go through the motions of putting it on every day. I’m basically spending my precious morning minutes brushing my eyelashes with no discernible effect.
Definitely spirit sisters.
Thanks for sharing Des,
Now I need to buy a new mattress first. The old one it kills my back to sleep on it.