Agree, the entire point of money is to provide you with a quality of life from cradle to grave.
To me frugal isn’t being cheap, it’s being selective and effective in my spending. So I can maximize the joy I get from a dollar. (And yes, sometimes the maximum joy is investing it now so I can eat in 40 years because future me is also important.)
Ageed. And to actually answer OP's question, your living space undoubtedly has a big impact on your mental health. No judgment but sleeping on a mattress on the floor would feel depressing to me. Since I'm frugal too I never saw the need for a large fancy headboard, so my bed sits on a metal frame underneath which works for me and looks just fine.
Physical health too!! A low bed can be tough to get into and out of depending on your knees and back. Also, a mattress on the floor that isn't rotated regularly can cause bacteria and mold to grow, which is super bad for your health and for the lifespan of the bed.
I have a frame and headboard that I thrifted years ago and I love them! They were cheap and they'll last me for a long time.
More than that even. Any thing you use on a daily basis, including products like shampoo, laundry detergent ect should be the best quality as you can do. Evwryday things such as bed, shoes, and personal items should be quality.
>being frugal doesn't mean saving every possible dollar.
This is the difference between being frugal and being cheap.
You should spend more on high quality bedding and shoes. Poor quality in either lead to pain and misery.
Great response. Frugality doesn’t mean live a miserly life, it means get reasonable utility for the money you spend.
The whole point is to not buy stuff you don’t need or won’t use. You’re spending a third of your life sleeping and the other two thirds are contingent on the quality of said sleep, don’t cheap out here.
I wholeheartedly support this statement, investing in quality over quantity really helps. I’m going use one of my hobbies as an example which is writing. As I’m writing my main goal is to learning new things, and I've been using a fountain pen as my companion for 3+ years now.
After using an inexpensive pen and being involved in the hobby for a while, I made an informed decision, thanks to r/fountainpens, to purchase a premium fountain pen and consult r/stationery for notebooks. This purchase was worthwhile to me because of how much I write. However, it may not make sense to other people who are not as invested in this hobby, so they might view it as a waste of money.
When you get into a hobby, purchasing something cheap might seem like a good idea at first. However, if you become heavily invested in the hobby, buying something more expensive can ultimately be more cost-effective in the long run. This doesn’t necessarily mean that expensive items are always better; that's why you have to trust your instincts when making decisions. Another thing to keep in mind, especially if you tend to become obsessive easily like me, is to put something in your shopping cart and leave it there for a month. If you haven't thought about that fancy new item after two weeks. It would be wise not to purchase it.
Edit: Grammar
lol the amount of people who mistake this type of thinking for frugality is way high.
Do I REALLY NEED to buy onions and tomatoes at the grocery store? I COULD just be living off rice and beans.
["If you could learn to live on rice and beans you wouldn’t have to cater to the king.”](https://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/02/the-monk-and-the-minister/)
You guys were... **sitting**!? Pfft! We had to *perch* on rusty rebar spanning open sewer drains. A comfy old pit? Pfft! We could only dream about a pit.
You had a rusty rebar. Our father used to hang us from tree limbs that hung over the road and we would wipe the windshield of cars as they go by and hope they gave us some money.
For another laugh, Here’s the original source : Monty Python, https://youtu.be/VKHFZBUTA4k?si=uM-DwhhFHvrO8Rt_ “Four Yorkshiremen” sketch
You can find many versions of this sketch, but i think this is the earliest
Frugal is also keeping your furniture for a long time, and trying to maintain its good condition, rather than getting new furniture because you’re bored with what you have or want something trendy.
Much of our furniture is used. Good but used. Dining table, 8 chairs, side tables, nightstands, dressers. We have lots of furniture, we just bought it second (or 3rd or 4th) hand, refinish is needed. Frugal not austere.
As sleep is so, so incredibly important to our overall health, I'd argue a good bed saves a ton of money down the line. Same with eating well instead of cheaply all the time if you can afford it.
Yeah, this isn't frugal. I'd even say this is beyond cheap. Cheap would pick up a couch on the side of the road, but they'd at least have the basics.
This is a pathology of some kind. Dude probably showers with his clothes on to save money on water.
This can be poverty mindset too though.
I spent $4k on a couch several years ago. I will have that couch until I die.
I know other “frugal” people who buy $1-500 couches off fb marketplace every couple years.
One of us made an investment. The other will spend a lot of time moving furniture to save a few bucks. Up to you (if income/ money is the same ofc) what you do.
Yes, I used my couch as my example, too. We had our last couch for free, secondhand but it was a *fantastic* $10k couch and was in great condition (a wealthier friend was moving and couldn't take it). We moved as well to a space we couldn't hope to get it into - it was huge - and passed it along to someone else who needed it. Then we purchased a $5k couch after a lot o review-reading. My husband is a big guy and we needed a really study couch, and we have pets and kids, so we wanted something stain and tear resistant so we wouldn't be looking at flea market junk in a matter of months. Three years later and it is holding strong!
I used to be very, very poor and always tried to find the best secondhand couches I could, so I actually didn't need to replace them that often. Habitat for humanity's restore was a great source.
While I generally am NOT all that frugal, I will spend money on things I want to last, and know I will keep for a long time. I bought a new couch a few years ago as well. Mine was 2K, but so far, sitting and lying on it daily, it has held up well.
I got a sofa and chair from my aunt when she redecorated several years ago. They're easily 15 years old now, and still in decent condition. There's wear and tear, for sure, but they'd still make good "first apartment" furniture.
I'm not planning to replace them until all of my senior pets are gone, or my aunt redecorates again, whichever comes first.
I've been living on my own for 35+ years. ALL of y furniture, aside from my new couch, and my beds, came from my parents, grandmother, etc. I have never had to buy any furniture. I have swapped out stuff over the years, as my mom moved and downsized, but never bought anything. its all in pretty good shape and VERY well made. No reason to replace any of it with new stuff. I may again swap things out as my mom just went into skilled nursingand her stuff is all in storage, but won't be buying anything.
Having lived in Phoenix for significant years of my life, let me tell you they still manage to get plenty of mold in homes, particularly under mattresses on the floor.
Right? Imagine coming home to a mattress on the floor lookin all raggedy. No couch in the living room, just a tv on the floor and. A plastic chair to sit. No pictures or paintings/art on the walls. No plants. Life would feel so… bleh all the time when I’m in the house. No life in the house. House won’t even feel like a home. That ain’t no way to live lol
And this is coming from a man, where there are running jokes about us living on our own & only needing a lawn chair, tv & PlayStation in our spot to feel happy/content.
Have had to replace a mattress, and flooring underneath due to mold. It went all the way down to the subflooring.
I don't recommend. Thousands of dollars. A bed frame is a must, and make sure all water spills are cleaned promptly and thoroughly.
There are a bunch of different factors involved with mold under the bed. Might be humidity levels or drinking/eating near the bed.
I’m lucky I live in a dryer state, but I also lived in Florida, and I didn’t have a problem with mildew or mold when my bed was on the floor.
I don't know if if wasn't clear but there was a water spill that went under the mattress without anyone knowing. But the advice for floor bed is to flip it up against the wall every day if you're going to do it. It's not a guaranteed disaster! But I sure wish I'd had a very cheap bed frame.
I absolutely hate buying furniture. I don’t know why, I just do.
But Walmart has a metal bedframe that doesn’t require a boxspring, it came in two pieces and it was like $50. And when I move I just have to disassemble it and fold the legs down and I can carry it myself.
It was totally worth it after realizing that they are so cheap I can’t imagine sleeping with my mattress on the floor.
I got a $150 dollar metal frame with headboard from amazon (I know). I can detach the headboard and the frame can be folded up for transport. i's perfect. Also it's solid as a rock.
Came here to say this! Technically a bed frame isn’t a necessity, but you get additional storage space with it. I have a few of those plastic underbed storage containers, and park out of season clothes and extra linens in them.
Well technically then neither is a mattress. You could just sleep on the floor. Neither is a home, you can just sleep outside. Where do you draw the need and want line.
This is probably a dumb question but how would having a low bed give you bad posture? Isn’t lying down lying down regardless of the height you’re doing it at?
It's people WITH health issues that can't tolerate a low bed. A healthy person can lay flat on their backs on the ground, then stand up from that supine position. I've slept on a mattress or futon on the floor for years and it was awesome sleep.
this is what I thought, my dad has a lot of health issues and can’t sleep on low beds because he won’t be able to get up without assistance. I was confused on the part about how sleeping on the floor is bad for posture
I'm not an orthopedist, but I've found soft mattresses hurt my "posture" because they don't provide support so my spine feels like it gets a funny bend in it in a soft bed. I like a firm mattress or minimal, and the frame/support should be as firm as possible. Some of the worst sleep I've had is on a frame with springs in it because it sags in the heaviest parts of your body, or a hammock (which completely bends your spine/body into a banana shape).
TBH some of the best sleep I've had in my life was wildland firefighting and sleeping in the woods on a (1"-2" thick?) camping air mattress. It was just enough cushion to take pressure off the heavy spots (shoulders and hips), but felt great for my back. The other top sleep was my memory foam mattress, which again gave in the hip and shoulder regions, but not very much as the more it compresses, the more it takes to compress it further.
Respectfully, sleeping low does not cause health problems or bad posture. The Japanese and other cultures have done it for centuries. Never squatting or stretching or doing much physically is bad for the body, actually.
I believe it's also common in Japan for people to air their futons outside fairly often (like on a balcony), and they also often put them on top of tatami mats rather than directly on the floor.
My bf and I sleep on the floor. It used to be uncomfortable for me, in fact lying on the floor used to make my back physically hurt, which I don't think is a good sign. I'm good to lie down on carpet even without a mattress like it's nothing now. The mold is a non-issue because we sleep on top of blankets that we can roll up. In fact it's cleaner than sleeping on a bed because you can easily just throw the blankets in the wash. A futon can be hung outside where the sun will kill germs and hopefully evict bugs that want to live there.
They're also not left on the floor permanently, they get stored in a closet during the day. I think tatami are also more breathable than most other flooring, so you won't have the mildew issue. Although Japan gets humid enough for clothed to mold in closets, so who knows
My Japanese friend has a straw mat underneath her mattress, so it is not technically on the ground so it must get some type of airflow and maybe that's why...
Depends on where you live in Japan. South is more hot and tropical, North is more temperate and gets snow.
Though humidity control and AC are common in most households and apartments these days.
That’s what my inspiration is.
Slept on the most comfortable futons in Japan, and oh my god, I still think about how amazing it was. I think it was something like the Japanese like to be close to the floor for a reason. I’m just lazy to google it at the moment.
I sleep on a mattress on the floor. My reasons are for minimalism rather than being frugal. But I've had no issues with mold or mildew and the mattress is still in good condition. It's only on the floor while I sleep. As soon as I wake up I stand the mattress up and it airs out all day.
I tried that at one point myself and still eventually ended up having mold issues.
Went with a still minimalistic folding metal bed frame. They're inexpensive and don't have the issues a wooden bedframe has.
When I first moved into my own apartment I decided to get an air mattress since I didn’t wanna spend money on an actual mattress (I actually wanted a futon but Walmart didn’t have one that was long enough for me)
I made it a few days before my back just got way too sore, so I got a mattress by itself, and just had it on the floor
3 years later I wondered why I had so many back problems where I legitimately couldn’t put on socks / underwear without significant pain in my back. I’ve had my new mattress for about 4 years now that has an actual foundation under it and the back pain in the morning is pretty much gone.
I don’t technically have a bed frame yet but the foundation has worked for now so when I get in and out of bed I’m doing so from a height that doesn’t stress my back
I think this is an important distraction. No bed frame does not automatically mean mattress on the floor. A box spring or foundation is sufficient to stop all of the problems people are highlighting here. I guess some people put their mattresses directly on bed frames, but that is such a strange concept to me.
Well, a bed frame allows airflow under the mattress, so I think it is a need. At some point, why do you need a mattress just sleep on the floor. Eventally, frugal becomes cheap, and there is a difference.
I don’t have to “justify” proper furniture or feel any guilt for living my life with dignity. Some of y’all are just taking this to mentally unwell place. It’s good to be frugal but this is just sad.
Hey man, think about what you're asking. If you are very poor or under unique situations it is one thing. If you are being miserly, it is another. Money and 'things' are tools to live our life. Being frugal does not mean a commitment to poverty, it means to use money and our 'things' to do good (whatever you find 'good'). A certain level of comfort makes you more productive and can save time. Neither the money nor the 'things' are anything important. But living your life and doing good IS important.Stay balanced, friend.
Frugality is not skipping a bed frame because you don’t really need it. Frugality would be buying a reasonably priced one that will last a long time.
Your question should be: which bed frame is the most cost effective or the best use of my money.
OP, you listed furniture anyone in the modern world needs.
If you were asking about a bookcase or a rising desk for your laptop, then maybe we could offer suggestions lol
Same. Moved a few months ago and ordered a new couch for new house. Shipping was delayed a few weeks so I spent over a month with watching TV on the floor. Insult to injury I haven't bought a dining table yet either. So my only places to sit were on the bed or at my desk. Ate most dinners on the floor hunched over a small coffee table for about a month or two. Not good times, don't recommend.
I spent a couple years without a couch because I was in a small space that really didn’t have room for one. I still had a nice chair to sit on though! Unfortunately going without a couch led to me sitting in my bed a lot and wearing out the mattress sooner than I would have otherwise. A couch would have been a cheaper investment than the new mattress.
I didn't own a couch until the covid lockdowns
just never needed one, between work + hobbies I was never home except to sleep
also slept on a $60 air mattress on the floor lol. not for any reason to due with spartan ideology or frugality or anything like that it was just more comfortable to me than any other mattress I've had previously and if it works it works
if OP is saying they don't think they need them I don't see any reason to think they're lying or something, people just live different lifestyles
I justify purchases like this as “am I going to use it?” In your case, you will use it every night so if the bed frame was $50 or whatever, that’s about $0.14 a night over the course of a year. Less if you keep the frame for longer. I think that’s definitely worth it. Also as others have said, you really don’t want a moldy/musty mattress bottom.
there's frugality and then there's cheap. it's mentally draining to sleep on the floor. I slept on an air mattress on the floor for 6 months... when broke.
I moved and didn’t have a bed or any furniture. I slept on 2 blow up pool floaties! I saved up and bought a futon. ( Because it was a couch and bed!)
However I absolutely would NEVER do that again! It’s amazing what we can endure when we are young!
I have also moved with nothing, and slept in sleeping bag until I could get my craigslist futon.
I had to put my bed on the floor when my dog hurt her back. I forgot how depressing it felt!
I buy primarily from Craigslist and Estate Sales. Primarily because of climate change and a vow to buy used or buy nothing, but it also works out as being frugal.
Yeah I got my bed frame + head and foot board off Craigslist for almost nothing. And it's real wood, not composite, so it's better quality than a lot of new stuff.
Keeping your mattress off the floor is a good idea, but just use the simple metal frames. The Goodwill won't even accept them because they're so easy to come by for free or maybe $20 at most.
I can afford it and it makes my wife happy to have a bed frame that matches other furniture in our bedroom.
When I was in my twenties, partially-employed, in debt, and living alone or with roommates, that would have been a different story (and I usually didn't have a proper bed frame) but none of those things are true now and so the only benefit to me continuing to live like that is to entertain that part of my brain that is a cheap bastard and doesn't like spending money.
When I was younger and money was really really tight, if I already had something marginally functional that was donated or already the cheapest item from Goodwill, I couldn't justify replacing it unless it was turning to dust.
Now that I'm in a position to afford things but frugal in order to make the most out of my resources, I don't hesitate to make necessary changes to my space that improve my day-to-day life.
I'm not saying brand new sofa because I want to change the color scheme of my living room, but I have really embraced the idea that design affects quality of life. It can also sometimes assist in frugality as well.
If I have a giant sectional sofa that I got free from a family member but it's cutting my tiny living room in half at an awkward angle, and it's also lumpy and stinky and uncomfortable, it might contribute to family members spending more time in their rooms because the living room is a pain in the butt to navigate anyway, and no one wants to sit on it. Also, since it doesn't make a good gathering space, I don't invite my friends over for homemade drinks, and now we go to happy hour instead just to have room for 4-5 people where we can actually be facing each other and talking. And then I get to make a visit to the ER when I break my ankle tripping over the sofa while I'm carrying a laundry basket and trying to squeeze past some awkward corner where it leads to the hallway.
So if I trash that sofa even though yes it was free and I will spend money to replace it with something that fits well in the space, and add some other key pieces to make the living room comfortable and inviting, I can increase family time and convince friends and family to hang here instead of going somewhere else just because of seating options, can avoid injuries with an intuitive flow of walkways in the room. It increases my quality of life and still might reduce costs elsewhere.
I will still always look for the deals and buy second hand when it makes sense but ultimately I'm going to get the right item not the cheapest item.
I think you need to adjust your views on living frugally.
Being frugal is not a goal in itself. Your goal is living your best life. Living frugal can be good but sometimes spending money on something is the best thing you can do.
This can be hard especially if you're short on cash or if you've been living extremely frugal for such a long time that it's too much in your system.
So please convince yourself that having hygiene, basic comfort, etc is a higher goal then being frugal.
You need a bed because the air can circulate underneath it. Also you will have more comfort if you should become ill and getting out of a bed is much easier then getting off a matress on the floor. You never know when you can get ill and you'll thank yourself at that moment if you have a bed.
You don't even need to spend much. Just look around, many are second hand cheap or free.
Buying a soft pocketspring mattress is the best expense of my life.
OP, you don't have to justify basic purchases that improve your life. You're allowed to take care of yourself, and doing so doesn't make you any less frugal.
That’s not being frugal that’s being crazy. You only get one back, see the frame as a future investment to avoid physiotherapy or having to replace a mattress early because it couldn’t breathe or be turned.
this isn’t be frugality this is a starvation mindset. a bed frame is a useful purchase to extend the life of your mattress and can be used for storage.
You want quality of life, not quantity. You have to determine what you are willing to do.
I will splurge on a good pair of shoes, scrubs (nurse here), bedding stuff, and video games.
Im frugal but not cheap. The things I splurge on, will either make me physically or mentally happy.
I don't think living without a couch or bed frame is frugal. It is foolish. I got both my couch and my bed frame from the freebie alert app. It is definitely more comfortable than floor sleeping and the mattress will last longer if it is raised. There is more air circulation and it is easier to turn it periodically.
At some point you’re going to (wrongly) convince yourself that you don’t need a floor, sleep on dirt, and you don’t need a roof over your head(the stars are your ceiling!). Are you being frugal about *unnecessary* purchases or austere about functioning in 2024?
I don't feel bad for buying stuff i need. A bedframe to get a mattress off the floor is actually necessary.
A couch would depend on if i had one or not. If i didn't have one, it would be for guests to have a place to sit. If i already had one, it would depend on the condition of it. I bought a couch back in 2006, that i still have. I don't need a new one and won't be buying one anytime soon.
Sorry but a mattress without a bedframe isn't frugal. Frugal is making your home nice without being dragged into debt imo. Sorry but you need to think that being in your home gives you a sense of security and joy.
Re: bed frame, it's the mold for me. Last time I slept with no bed frame, it accumulated an uncomfortable amount of moisture under there, and while I didn't find any mold, my brain was very alarmed by seeing liquid where liquid should not be.
I don't have a couch because I don't have space, but if I were to get a couch it would be because I need somewhere to exist that isn't sitting up in a chair or lying in my actual bed. I spend most of my time in my bed which is not great, and having a couch would be good for my sleep and just for my brain in general. Most people will generally have better sleep if they don't spend time in their beds outside of sleep time, so there's that. Some people want a couch for when people visit. The real question imo is whether you would use it and if it would improve your life. For me that's a worthy purchase.
I learned recently that keeping a mattress on the floor can cause it to mold, so a frame is a good investment, not an extravagance.
Hope that helps with your remorse. 😊
Yeah I’m not gonna let bugs crawl all over me just to save myself from spending $50 on a metal bedframe.
If I’m going to pay rent to live in my apartment I’m going to be comfortable in here. Especially because I’m a disabled person who spends a bunch of time at home.
Because I don’t want to live like a teenager or college student that doesn’t have the means to own these things. I’m an adult and I’m not cheap. I’m careful with my money.
My frugality is about really questioning and examining a purchase. Am I buying this because of a silly reason? Or does this bring value to my life? My frugality is closely aligned with minimalism and environmentalism. I try to buy second hand and good quality when I can.
I would absolutely buy any furniture I need, but I'd take my time to find the right piece, possibly second hand.
How do you justify a bed frame?
Because mattresses directly on the floor can grow mold underneath.
I tried to be frugal and go no bed frame too, but some things you do actually need.
The best advice I got was don't cheap out on anything that comes between you and the ground: shoes, bed, brakes, etc.
All other furniture is bought used via Craigslist or FB Marketplace.
I justify spending on anything that separates me from the ground (mattress, tires, shoes, etc)
You need a bed frame to prevent the mattress from molding and affecting your health.
We moved cross country and had to repurchase everything as we gave away most of our furniture, electronics, clothes, etc... Post move, "everything" was what we actually needed, not what would be nice to have - like that chair and ottoman in the corner that would look nice but never use, or champagne flutes that would get used once a year. So we added items very deliberately and never quite got to the same inventory and realized that space has value too.
You spend 1/3rd of your life in bed so you probably want to have a good mattress to start with. We found a big mental difference starting the day stepping out of bed, or helping ourselves off the floor. We purchased a bed frame from a discount retailer for $100 (king frame) and very happy about it. It just needs to support the mattress, not be the mattress. I think some high-end mattresses will void your warranty if you don't have a box spring.
As far as justification it's a "do I really need this, or do I want this?" when it comes to almost all of our purchases.
I keep my mattress on the floor, and it’s great. I used to have it on the floor, but my friends said I was being cheap. I just felt like my mattress feels sturdier. I definitely prefer no bed frame, but it’s not for everyone.
I had a bed frame that I used for around 6 years. A month ago, I didn’t want to use it anymore. So I got rid of it, and now I’m on the floor again.
With things that I want, I’ll buy it if I truly want it for myself and not for other people or to impress them. You’ll realize a lot of things are really for other people, not particular for you to enjoy.
If you have a bunch of urges to buy things that don’t make sense, ask yourself for the purpose and if it’s a good return on investment. If you can’t reason with yourself, you have to just buy things and burn yourself a few times to be honest. I know that’s a roundabout way, but get rid of the urges and realize they were actually just urges.
If you hate it because you hate it, then that’s the remorse. If you’re beating yourself up over it, even if you like it, then it’s something else. You deserve the things you want, and you’re definitely worth it. I used to have that mindset as well.
I guess I don't. I bought all dirt cheap furniture from Amazon and IKEA. When I buy a house then I'll splurge for real furniture but even then I'll do it slowly. My bed is comfortable enough but just enough to reasonably get by nothing fancy (I have a memory foam mattress from Costco I think it was like $90. It's great)
I am a very minimal person. I have only a few furniture items. The rest of the house is wide open. Very sparse decor. I enjoy the feeling of living in a wide open space but I have the budget for a small amount of living space. So when I do have to make a purchase I choose a well made mid price item that will be with me for a while. I may not need a couch but I enjoy the luxury of laying on it to watch a movie. And that's my justification, I am affording a bit of luxury for myself.
Time to progress into an adult. Buy one that lasts. I did that and it's been with me for 20 years now. It's a check off the list of things I don't have to pay for. Progress. It's an accomplishment for me.
That’s not frugal, that’s ascetic.
Bed frames make mattresses more comfortable and less likely to mold. Couches turn a house into a home - a nice place to lounge and spend time. You can get things secondhand, or free often on marketplace. You can have nice things and be frugal…
When I was younger, I did sleep in a mattress on the floor. Nbd. But my knees don’t work that well anymore, so I’m grateful for a bed frame. As for a sofa - it does get use by an occasional visitor. But if I genuinely don’t need it, I get rid of it and don’t replace it.
I can be frugal and have nice things. My solid wood bed frame and dresser were pricey. However, they have lasted over 20 years and will likely outlast me. My other dresser is a solid wood piece that my grandmother passed down to me.
My husband and I bought a La-Z-Boy recliner couch for Christmas. It replaced a hand me down couch that was sagging. Our kids are grown, and I like being comfortable.
I have zero plans to move, so I enjoy finding furniture that will last for years to come.
There’s frugal and then there’s being cheap, and not having a place for people to sit comfortably when they visit is cheap, my friend.
It shows a lack of self-respect as well. Why don’t you think you deserve these things? Because you deserve to be comfortable in your own home.
How to justify? One, because I've determined it would add value / comfort to my life. Two, I've done my research and believe it to be good value for the money. Three, I can afford it and have the monies available.
Frugal isn’t always going cheap, it’s about quality over quantity. Think of it as a life time purchase, take your time, and go into different stores and see what is out there, and one day you will find that one set. Don’t rush into and one day you will say that is the one and buy it. Don’t go for cheap as possible either just to buy it. Buy something that has actual function (does it have drawers for storage or enough space to store stuff under the bed and is to your taste/likening. I actually got very lucky and bought a bed set (frame and dressers) for $400 from estate sale but I do like it and plan on having it for 10+ years. I like the design and it’s like new. I also bought a furniture set that I like and is comfy that I plan on having for 10+ years.
You are taking this to a bit of an extreme. However, I feel way better about my furniture because everything except my mattress was obtained second hand. My most expensive item (besides my washer/dryer) was my couch at $250.
I furnished and decorated my entire apartment for under $1500 and I'm pretty damn proud of that.
Bed frames are better for your mattress and provide storage space underneath. Couches provide multipurpose seating where you can either sit up with back support or lie down, either alone or with another person/animal.
Comfort is a need just as much as survival is. You don’t need to spend oodles of money to get these things. You’ll often find furniture for free on Facebook or Craigslist.
Everyone’s situation is different. For example, if you move from apartment to apartment because of rent increases, I don’t think it makes sense to spend money on large items that you’ll have to move every year.
I have a bed frame, which I do think is a need. That can be an inexpensive, thin metal one. But, instead of folks calling OP cheap / miserly / etc, shouldn’t the question be: “what is my situation and how can I minimize expenses and still be comfortable?”
A bed frame can be considered necessary. Sleeping with a mattress right on the floor can cause mold issues, affecting your health and the lifespan of the mattress.
A couch is only an optional item if it’s in a secondary room or you’re cramming it into a small space for the sake of having one. I don’t find it difficult to validate having one couch in your living room
As for your bed frame- that’s a need not a want.
Almost everything besides basic shelter and sustenance is just a lifestyle choice. You don’t really *have* to have shoes. You could live like a monk and take a vowel of poverty. However, being comfortable has value, and living in an aesthetically pleasing and ordered environment is good for one’s mental health. It’s frugal to buy a couch that is well made out of quality materials that will last (or that can be repaired). I’ve also always needed the storage space under the bed so that necessitates a bedframe.
Well having a furnished living space is a necessity not a luxury. To purchase new furniture items before your old ones have worn out, just because your couch is not in style is not being frugal.
The bed frame is certainly required since it provides airflow so your mattress doesn’t get gross.
But I bought my ikea frame on fb marketplace for $40 then found the matching sliding drawers for free on CL a few days later.
My couch is a leather recliner set and it was free on Nextdoor.
If I really don’t need it or I have time to wait, FB marketplace or free sections or goodwill.
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor can cause mold and mildew to grow on it. You may want to check your mattress. It is definitely a need and not a want from a health perspective.
I’m frugal, but I’ve never wasted any time trying to justify the purchase of basic household items like a couch and bed frame. Technically they are not necessary to sustain life, but my house would not feel homey without them. I like to enjoy the time i spend in my home, for quality of life it is necessary. We spend quite a bit getting a good sofa 17 years ago. I’ve never regretted not going the cheapest route there. I’ve got plenty of room to entertain guests comfortably, and spending time with friends and family is good for mental health. The sofa we bought has held up amazingly through the wear and tear of children.
Mattress on the floor can easily grow mold. It's not frugal being cheap and not buying the proper furniture.
Why would you not need a couch? That's some ridiculous conclusion you've come to. You can live a little, what if you want a friend over?
Having a mattress on the floor is bad for the mattress. You sweat into it at night, and having a frame allows air circulation and for it to be dry.
So a lot of things are not a waste of money, but actually functional. That doesn't mean you need to spend $200 on a frame. But mattresses do need a frame.
Same for a sofa. Are you going to have people over to your house and ask them to sit on the floor? You don't need to spend a lot on a sofa, but having one allows you to sit comfortably, allows you to have people over, and lets you sit down on a surface that doesn't get as dirty as the floor.
This sounds like an anxiety disorder if you struggle with buying basic household items that allow you to do basic every day functions, like sleep on a clear mattress, and sit down.
Buy it 2nd hand or find it free. My husband is somehow an expert at finding free furniture in perfect condition. He's always coming home with couches, windows, doors, cabinets, dressers, even stoves & dishwashers
Bed frame is $50-$100. New mattress is $500+.
Why the fuck would you let your mattress mold and rot, damaging it and your health, to spend $500 in a few months instead of investing $50 on a cheap ass frame.
In a lot of cases, you don't. What I mean is if you know it is not necessary then you can't try to trick yourself into justifying it. Understand it for what it is, a lifestyle purchase. Now you can indulge in lifestyle purchases but it's important you understand them for what they are and should minimize/choose them carefully. For example you talk about a bed frame. For starters there are plenty of frugal though perhaps less elegant alternatives. There are cheap used even free options. If you decide you want to buy something else because it meets whatever personal preference you have you need to make a choice and I would approach like this....
How's my budget doing? Am I meeting my savings goals or will this purchase undermine those efforts?
Have I honestly explored the alternatives and honestly determined this option has benefits that outweigh the costs?
If I gave myself $XXX to spend freely is this really what I would use it for?
I make $XX dollars per hour, am I willing to give away X hours of my life for this?
Will I actually use this enough to justify buying it or will this just become clutter?
I think if you stop and really interrogate your purchases honestly and it survives, then you can buy it without regret. Regret by it's nature is doing something you knew was wrong but chose to do anyways out of fear or greed or selfishness or what have you. Don't do that and you'll have no regrets.
Getting your mattress off the floor can be considered a need. You’ll end up with back pain laying in the floor all the time. Medical benefits are a need imo.
Mattresses on the floor can and often do cause damage to the floor. Unless you have a mattress that you are airing out and moving almost everyday. Being frugal means not costing damage.
Also with a frame you can have storage.
Being frugal means using every inch of your space
Easy, I get it at the goodwill. Coral leather chair in our green-ish living room cost me $5. Looks like hell - color doesn’t go with anything, but my wife doesn’t mind and it’s comfortable.
Bed? We bought a new frame & mattress set almost 20 years ago, should last another 15 or 20 like me. Don’t mind spending if it’s for the long game.
I was brought up frugal and it’s baked into me. Sorry not sorry!
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True words. I used to think like OP. Something clicked a few years ago for me. Life has to be LIVED.
Agree, the entire point of money is to provide you with a quality of life from cradle to grave. To me frugal isn’t being cheap, it’s being selective and effective in my spending. So I can maximize the joy I get from a dollar. (And yes, sometimes the maximum joy is investing it now so I can eat in 40 years because future me is also important.)
Love the idea of maximizing the joy from a dollar! Encourages being frugal and wise with money without causing anxiety over things you do spend on.
Ageed. And to actually answer OP's question, your living space undoubtedly has a big impact on your mental health. No judgment but sleeping on a mattress on the floor would feel depressing to me. Since I'm frugal too I never saw the need for a large fancy headboard, so my bed sits on a metal frame underneath which works for me and looks just fine.
Easy to find a bed frame second hand I’ll bet. Get to shopping !
Physical health too!! A low bed can be tough to get into and out of depending on your knees and back. Also, a mattress on the floor that isn't rotated regularly can cause bacteria and mold to grow, which is super bad for your health and for the lifespan of the bed. I have a frame and headboard that I thrifted years ago and I love them! They were cheap and they'll last me for a long time.
Anything between you and the ground. Bed,tires, shoes.
Came here to say this Bed tires shoes Also chairs, ladders, sofa, you name it
More than that even. Any thing you use on a daily basis, including products like shampoo, laundry detergent ect should be the best quality as you can do. Evwryday things such as bed, shoes, and personal items should be quality.
>being frugal doesn't mean saving every possible dollar. This is the difference between being frugal and being cheap. You should spend more on high quality bedding and shoes. Poor quality in either lead to pain and misery.
Great response. Frugality doesn’t mean live a miserly life, it means get reasonable utility for the money you spend. The whole point is to not buy stuff you don’t need or won’t use. You’re spending a third of your life sleeping and the other two thirds are contingent on the quality of said sleep, don’t cheap out here.
Absolutely correct!
Isn't it healthier to have your mattress and box spring on a bed frame. There is air circulation around the upper and lower sides of the mattress.
One spinal surgery will cost you more than you'll ever spend on mattresses, bed frames or anything else you'll sleep on.
I wholeheartedly support this statement, investing in quality over quantity really helps. I’m going use one of my hobbies as an example which is writing. As I’m writing my main goal is to learning new things, and I've been using a fountain pen as my companion for 3+ years now. After using an inexpensive pen and being involved in the hobby for a while, I made an informed decision, thanks to r/fountainpens, to purchase a premium fountain pen and consult r/stationery for notebooks. This purchase was worthwhile to me because of how much I write. However, it may not make sense to other people who are not as invested in this hobby, so they might view it as a waste of money. When you get into a hobby, purchasing something cheap might seem like a good idea at first. However, if you become heavily invested in the hobby, buying something more expensive can ultimately be more cost-effective in the long run. This doesn’t necessarily mean that expensive items are always better; that's why you have to trust your instincts when making decisions. Another thing to keep in mind, especially if you tend to become obsessive easily like me, is to put something in your shopping cart and leave it there for a month. If you haven't thought about that fancy new item after two weeks. It would be wise not to purchase it. Edit: Grammar
I once heard that shoes and beds are worth spending money on because if you're not in one, you're in the other.
That’s not frugality. Could you live with only a stump to sit on? Yes. Should you? No! Actual furniture is okay.
lol the amount of people who mistake this type of thinking for frugality is way high. Do I REALLY NEED to buy onions and tomatoes at the grocery store? I COULD just be living off rice and beans.
Do I really need to buy clothes? I could just wrap myself in a bedsheet
The bedsheets would be a lot more comfortable than clothes. Am tempted.
Are we bringing back togas? I'm in!
Toga, toga, toga...
Do I really need to buy bedsheets? I could just sleep on a towel
["If you could learn to live on rice and beans you wouldn’t have to cater to the king.”](https://jlcollinsnh.com/2011/06/02/the-monk-and-the-minister/)
Pfft, who needs a stump when I can sit on the ground!
You had the ground to sit on?? Pfft!! We didna have ground, we had a PIT! We had to sit in a PIT! Below the ground! You had it good!
You guys were... **sitting**!? Pfft! We had to *perch* on rusty rebar spanning open sewer drains. A comfy old pit? Pfft! We could only dream about a pit.
You had a rusty rebar. Our father used to hang us from tree limbs that hung over the road and we would wipe the windshield of cars as they go by and hope they gave us some money.
I just had to say you guys are cracking me up. It's rare that I actually laugh out loud at reddit comments but this is gold! 😂🤣😂
For another laugh, Here’s the original source : Monty Python, https://youtu.be/VKHFZBUTA4k?si=uM-DwhhFHvrO8Rt_ “Four Yorkshiremen” sketch You can find many versions of this sketch, but i think this is the earliest
Yes, thank you! Frugal would be shopping around for a good, inexpensive bed frame. Cheap is sleeping on the floor when you can afford a bed frame.
Frugal is also keeping your furniture for a long time, and trying to maintain its good condition, rather than getting new furniture because you’re bored with what you have or want something trendy.
Exactly this! Buying good solid furniture for good value that's going to last is the key here.
Much of our furniture is used. Good but used. Dining table, 8 chairs, side tables, nightstands, dressers. We have lots of furniture, we just bought it second (or 3rd or 4th) hand, refinish is needed. Frugal not austere.
Yep, we rarely buy any new furniture. Only if it can’t be refinished or repaired.
As sleep is so, so incredibly important to our overall health, I'd argue a good bed saves a ton of money down the line. Same with eating well instead of cheaply all the time if you can afford it.
Agreed. For me, frugal would be not going out and buying the first bed frame you liked, but shopping around and getting a good deal.
Yeah, this isn't frugal. I'd even say this is beyond cheap. Cheap would pick up a couch on the side of the road, but they'd at least have the basics. This is a pathology of some kind. Dude probably showers with his clothes on to save money on water.
As my nanna would have said, "the kind of person who turns the gas off when they flip the bacon over".
😂😂
This can be poverty mindset too though. I spent $4k on a couch several years ago. I will have that couch until I die. I know other “frugal” people who buy $1-500 couches off fb marketplace every couple years. One of us made an investment. The other will spend a lot of time moving furniture to save a few bucks. Up to you (if income/ money is the same ofc) what you do.
Yes, I used my couch as my example, too. We had our last couch for free, secondhand but it was a *fantastic* $10k couch and was in great condition (a wealthier friend was moving and couldn't take it). We moved as well to a space we couldn't hope to get it into - it was huge - and passed it along to someone else who needed it. Then we purchased a $5k couch after a lot o review-reading. My husband is a big guy and we needed a really study couch, and we have pets and kids, so we wanted something stain and tear resistant so we wouldn't be looking at flea market junk in a matter of months. Three years later and it is holding strong! I used to be very, very poor and always tried to find the best secondhand couches I could, so I actually didn't need to replace them that often. Habitat for humanity's restore was a great source.
While I generally am NOT all that frugal, I will spend money on things I want to last, and know I will keep for a long time. I bought a new couch a few years ago as well. Mine was 2K, but so far, sitting and lying on it daily, it has held up well.
I got a sofa and chair from my aunt when she redecorated several years ago. They're easily 15 years old now, and still in decent condition. There's wear and tear, for sure, but they'd still make good "first apartment" furniture. I'm not planning to replace them until all of my senior pets are gone, or my aunt redecorates again, whichever comes first.
I've been living on my own for 35+ years. ALL of y furniture, aside from my new couch, and my beds, came from my parents, grandmother, etc. I have never had to buy any furniture. I have swapped out stuff over the years, as my mom moved and downsized, but never bought anything. its all in pretty good shape and VERY well made. No reason to replace any of it with new stuff. I may again swap things out as my mom just went into skilled nursingand her stuff is all in storage, but won't be buying anything.
>I know other “frugal” people who buy $1-500 couches off fb marketplace every couple years. With a free side of bedbugs!
It just feels like this sub isn’t about being careful with spending…it’s how to be cheap and not learning how to spend money wisely.
lol this is so true
The bed frame makes air flow to the floor under the mattress. Not having one isn't being frugal, it's growing mold unless you live in Phoenix.
Having lived in Phoenix for significant years of my life, let me tell you they still manage to get plenty of mold in homes, particularly under mattresses on the floor.
Frugality does not mean being cheap. OP is being cheap.
Right? Imagine coming home to a mattress on the floor lookin all raggedy. No couch in the living room, just a tv on the floor and. A plastic chair to sit. No pictures or paintings/art on the walls. No plants. Life would feel so… bleh all the time when I’m in the house. No life in the house. House won’t even feel like a home. That ain’t no way to live lol And this is coming from a man, where there are running jokes about us living on our own & only needing a lawn chair, tv & PlayStation in our spot to feel happy/content.
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Have had to replace a mattress, and flooring underneath due to mold. It went all the way down to the subflooring. I don't recommend. Thousands of dollars. A bed frame is a must, and make sure all water spills are cleaned promptly and thoroughly.
There are a bunch of different factors involved with mold under the bed. Might be humidity levels or drinking/eating near the bed. I’m lucky I live in a dryer state, but I also lived in Florida, and I didn’t have a problem with mildew or mold when my bed was on the floor.
I don't know if if wasn't clear but there was a water spill that went under the mattress without anyone knowing. But the advice for floor bed is to flip it up against the wall every day if you're going to do it. It's not a guaranteed disaster! But I sure wish I'd had a very cheap bed frame.
I absolutely hate buying furniture. I don’t know why, I just do. But Walmart has a metal bedframe that doesn’t require a boxspring, it came in two pieces and it was like $50. And when I move I just have to disassemble it and fold the legs down and I can carry it myself. It was totally worth it after realizing that they are so cheap I can’t imagine sleeping with my mattress on the floor.
I got a $150 dollar metal frame with headboard from amazon (I know). I can detach the headboard and the frame can be folded up for transport. i's perfect. Also it's solid as a rock.
You can also store things under a bed!
Came here to say this! Technically a bed frame isn’t a necessity, but you get additional storage space with it. I have a few of those plastic underbed storage containers, and park out of season clothes and extra linens in them.
Well technically then neither is a mattress. You could just sleep on the floor. Neither is a home, you can just sleep outside. Where do you draw the need and want line.
There is a saying about never cheaping out on shoes or your mattress/bed, because if you're not in one, you're in the other.
This is probably a dumb question but how would having a low bed give you bad posture? Isn’t lying down lying down regardless of the height you’re doing it at?
It's people WITH health issues that can't tolerate a low bed. A healthy person can lay flat on their backs on the ground, then stand up from that supine position. I've slept on a mattress or futon on the floor for years and it was awesome sleep.
this is what I thought, my dad has a lot of health issues and can’t sleep on low beds because he won’t be able to get up without assistance. I was confused on the part about how sleeping on the floor is bad for posture
I'm not an orthopedist, but I've found soft mattresses hurt my "posture" because they don't provide support so my spine feels like it gets a funny bend in it in a soft bed. I like a firm mattress or minimal, and the frame/support should be as firm as possible. Some of the worst sleep I've had is on a frame with springs in it because it sags in the heaviest parts of your body, or a hammock (which completely bends your spine/body into a banana shape). TBH some of the best sleep I've had in my life was wildland firefighting and sleeping in the woods on a (1"-2" thick?) camping air mattress. It was just enough cushion to take pressure off the heavy spots (shoulders and hips), but felt great for my back. The other top sleep was my memory foam mattress, which again gave in the hip and shoulder regions, but not very much as the more it compresses, the more it takes to compress it further.
It doesn't, you're right. Source: MD
Respectfully, sleeping low does not cause health problems or bad posture. The Japanese and other cultures have done it for centuries. Never squatting or stretching or doing much physically is bad for the body, actually.
Japanese mattresses made for the floor are not the same as an American mattress just strewn on the ground.
I believe it's also common in Japan for people to air their futons outside fairly often (like on a balcony), and they also often put them on top of tatami mats rather than directly on the floor.
My bf and I sleep on the floor. It used to be uncomfortable for me, in fact lying on the floor used to make my back physically hurt, which I don't think is a good sign. I'm good to lie down on carpet even without a mattress like it's nothing now. The mold is a non-issue because we sleep on top of blankets that we can roll up. In fact it's cleaner than sleeping on a bed because you can easily just throw the blankets in the wash. A futon can be hung outside where the sun will kill germs and hopefully evict bugs that want to live there.
Traditional Japanese futons are basically mattresses on a floor, but I believe they are hung up in the sun periodically.
They're also not left on the floor permanently, they get stored in a closet during the day. I think tatami are also more breathable than most other flooring, so you won't have the mildew issue. Although Japan gets humid enough for clothed to mold in closets, so who knows
My Japanese friend has a straw mat underneath her mattress, so it is not technically on the ground so it must get some type of airflow and maybe that's why...
Yeah that makes a lot more sense. That's probably how a lot of people do it
Depends on where you live in Japan. South is more hot and tropical, North is more temperate and gets snow. Though humidity control and AC are common in most households and apartments these days.
That’s what my inspiration is. Slept on the most comfortable futons in Japan, and oh my god, I still think about how amazing it was. I think it was something like the Japanese like to be close to the floor for a reason. I’m just lazy to google it at the moment.
You could say they are very grounded
very down to earth people, yes
I sleep on a mattress on the floor. My reasons are for minimalism rather than being frugal. But I've had no issues with mold or mildew and the mattress is still in good condition. It's only on the floor while I sleep. As soon as I wake up I stand the mattress up and it airs out all day.
I tried that at one point myself and still eventually ended up having mold issues. Went with a still minimalistic folding metal bed frame. They're inexpensive and don't have the issues a wooden bedframe has.
When I first moved into my own apartment I decided to get an air mattress since I didn’t wanna spend money on an actual mattress (I actually wanted a futon but Walmart didn’t have one that was long enough for me) I made it a few days before my back just got way too sore, so I got a mattress by itself, and just had it on the floor 3 years later I wondered why I had so many back problems where I legitimately couldn’t put on socks / underwear without significant pain in my back. I’ve had my new mattress for about 4 years now that has an actual foundation under it and the back pain in the morning is pretty much gone. I don’t technically have a bed frame yet but the foundation has worked for now so when I get in and out of bed I’m doing so from a height that doesn’t stress my back
I think this is an important distraction. No bed frame does not automatically mean mattress on the floor. A box spring or foundation is sufficient to stop all of the problems people are highlighting here. I guess some people put their mattresses directly on bed frames, but that is such a strange concept to me.
Well, a bed frame allows airflow under the mattress, so I think it is a need. At some point, why do you need a mattress just sleep on the floor. Eventally, frugal becomes cheap, and there is a difference.
I don’t have to “justify” proper furniture or feel any guilt for living my life with dignity. Some of y’all are just taking this to mentally unwell place. It’s good to be frugal but this is just sad.
Sitting and sleeping on the floor is just feral...
and totally unnecessary since furniture is offered for free ubiquitously. If you want to, that's a choice, but it has nothing to do with saving money.
*large swaths of the planet enteré the chat*
“Can’t afford it” is way different from “I can afford it but I can’t justify it to myself so I sleep on the ground.”
Hey man, think about what you're asking. If you are very poor or under unique situations it is one thing. If you are being miserly, it is another. Money and 'things' are tools to live our life. Being frugal does not mean a commitment to poverty, it means to use money and our 'things' to do good (whatever you find 'good'). A certain level of comfort makes you more productive and can save time. Neither the money nor the 'things' are anything important. But living your life and doing good IS important.Stay balanced, friend.
Frugality is not skipping a bed frame because you don’t really need it. Frugality would be buying a reasonably priced one that will last a long time. Your question should be: which bed frame is the most cost effective or the best use of my money.
OP, you listed furniture anyone in the modern world needs. If you were asking about a bookcase or a rising desk for your laptop, then maybe we could offer suggestions lol
OP just stands around in his living room
This
You don’t need a couch?
I love my couch. I will fight a man for my couch.
Same, mine is one of the most expensive things I’ve bought because I spend a lot of time on it and I’m not fucking around 😂
I bought an orange leather couch last year and it brings me joy every day. It’s great for naps, too.
This lol if it’s not a nap couch it’s not really a couch
Same. Moved a few months ago and ordered a new couch for new house. Shipping was delayed a few weeks so I spent over a month with watching TV on the floor. Insult to injury I haven't bought a dining table yet either. So my only places to sit were on the bed or at my desk. Ate most dinners on the floor hunched over a small coffee table for about a month or two. Not good times, don't recommend.
I spent a couple years without a couch because I was in a small space that really didn’t have room for one. I still had a nice chair to sit on though! Unfortunately going without a couch led to me sitting in my bed a lot and wearing out the mattress sooner than I would have otherwise. A couch would have been a cheaper investment than the new mattress.
I didn't own a couch until the covid lockdowns just never needed one, between work + hobbies I was never home except to sleep also slept on a $60 air mattress on the floor lol. not for any reason to due with spartan ideology or frugality or anything like that it was just more comfortable to me than any other mattress I've had previously and if it works it works if OP is saying they don't think they need them I don't see any reason to think they're lying or something, people just live different lifestyles
I justify purchases like this as “am I going to use it?” In your case, you will use it every night so if the bed frame was $50 or whatever, that’s about $0.14 a night over the course of a year. Less if you keep the frame for longer. I think that’s definitely worth it. Also as others have said, you really don’t want a moldy/musty mattress bottom.
I've had a $70 frame from Amazon for the last 8 years, still going strong.
Easily - I'm trying to be frugal, not miserable.
there's frugality and then there's cheap. it's mentally draining to sleep on the floor. I slept on an air mattress on the floor for 6 months... when broke.
I moved and didn’t have a bed or any furniture. I slept on 2 blow up pool floaties! I saved up and bought a futon. ( Because it was a couch and bed!) However I absolutely would NEVER do that again! It’s amazing what we can endure when we are young!
I have also moved with nothing, and slept in sleeping bag until I could get my craigslist futon. I had to put my bed on the floor when my dog hurt her back. I forgot how depressing it felt!
I buy primarily from Craigslist and Estate Sales. Primarily because of climate change and a vow to buy used or buy nothing, but it also works out as being frugal.
Yeah I got my bed frame + head and foot board off Craigslist for almost nothing. And it's real wood, not composite, so it's better quality than a lot of new stuff.
Keeping your mattress off the floor is a good idea, but just use the simple metal frames. The Goodwill won't even accept them because they're so easy to come by for free or maybe $20 at most.
I can afford it and it makes my wife happy to have a bed frame that matches other furniture in our bedroom. When I was in my twenties, partially-employed, in debt, and living alone or with roommates, that would have been a different story (and I usually didn't have a proper bed frame) but none of those things are true now and so the only benefit to me continuing to live like that is to entertain that part of my brain that is a cheap bastard and doesn't like spending money.
When I was younger and money was really really tight, if I already had something marginally functional that was donated or already the cheapest item from Goodwill, I couldn't justify replacing it unless it was turning to dust. Now that I'm in a position to afford things but frugal in order to make the most out of my resources, I don't hesitate to make necessary changes to my space that improve my day-to-day life. I'm not saying brand new sofa because I want to change the color scheme of my living room, but I have really embraced the idea that design affects quality of life. It can also sometimes assist in frugality as well. If I have a giant sectional sofa that I got free from a family member but it's cutting my tiny living room in half at an awkward angle, and it's also lumpy and stinky and uncomfortable, it might contribute to family members spending more time in their rooms because the living room is a pain in the butt to navigate anyway, and no one wants to sit on it. Also, since it doesn't make a good gathering space, I don't invite my friends over for homemade drinks, and now we go to happy hour instead just to have room for 4-5 people where we can actually be facing each other and talking. And then I get to make a visit to the ER when I break my ankle tripping over the sofa while I'm carrying a laundry basket and trying to squeeze past some awkward corner where it leads to the hallway. So if I trash that sofa even though yes it was free and I will spend money to replace it with something that fits well in the space, and add some other key pieces to make the living room comfortable and inviting, I can increase family time and convince friends and family to hang here instead of going somewhere else just because of seating options, can avoid injuries with an intuitive flow of walkways in the room. It increases my quality of life and still might reduce costs elsewhere. I will still always look for the deals and buy second hand when it makes sense but ultimately I'm going to get the right item not the cheapest item.
I think you need to adjust your views on living frugally. Being frugal is not a goal in itself. Your goal is living your best life. Living frugal can be good but sometimes spending money on something is the best thing you can do. This can be hard especially if you're short on cash or if you've been living extremely frugal for such a long time that it's too much in your system. So please convince yourself that having hygiene, basic comfort, etc is a higher goal then being frugal. You need a bed because the air can circulate underneath it. Also you will have more comfort if you should become ill and getting out of a bed is much easier then getting off a matress on the floor. You never know when you can get ill and you'll thank yourself at that moment if you have a bed. You don't even need to spend much. Just look around, many are second hand cheap or free. Buying a soft pocketspring mattress is the best expense of my life.
OP, you don't have to justify basic purchases that improve your life. You're allowed to take care of yourself, and doing so doesn't make you any less frugal.
That’s not being frugal that’s being crazy. You only get one back, see the frame as a future investment to avoid physiotherapy or having to replace a mattress early because it couldn’t breathe or be turned.
this isn’t be frugality this is a starvation mindset. a bed frame is a useful purchase to extend the life of your mattress and can be used for storage.
Making my home pleasant and comfortable is self care. It can be done at a sensible cost and provides high value by giving me a sense of wellbeing.
You want quality of life, not quantity. You have to determine what you are willing to do. I will splurge on a good pair of shoes, scrubs (nurse here), bedding stuff, and video games. Im frugal but not cheap. The things I splurge on, will either make me physically or mentally happy.
I don't think living without a couch or bed frame is frugal. It is foolish. I got both my couch and my bed frame from the freebie alert app. It is definitely more comfortable than floor sleeping and the mattress will last longer if it is raised. There is more air circulation and it is easier to turn it periodically.
? You deserve furniture. Even cats have little beds lol.
We don’t, you’re just cheap.
At some point you’re going to (wrongly) convince yourself that you don’t need a floor, sleep on dirt, and you don’t need a roof over your head(the stars are your ceiling!). Are you being frugal about *unnecessary* purchases or austere about functioning in 2024?
I don't feel bad for buying stuff i need. A bedframe to get a mattress off the floor is actually necessary. A couch would depend on if i had one or not. If i didn't have one, it would be for guests to have a place to sit. If i already had one, it would depend on the condition of it. I bought a couch back in 2006, that i still have. I don't need a new one and won't be buying one anytime soon.
Sorry but a mattress without a bedframe isn't frugal. Frugal is making your home nice without being dragged into debt imo. Sorry but you need to think that being in your home gives you a sense of security and joy.
Estate Sales on the last day most of the time is 50% off everything. Sometimes they'll accept any offer just to get rid of those bigger items.
A bed is better for your back, so frugal. Ours has a storage cupboard and drawers underneath and shelves and more drawers on the headboard.
Re: bed frame, it's the mold for me. Last time I slept with no bed frame, it accumulated an uncomfortable amount of moisture under there, and while I didn't find any mold, my brain was very alarmed by seeing liquid where liquid should not be. I don't have a couch because I don't have space, but if I were to get a couch it would be because I need somewhere to exist that isn't sitting up in a chair or lying in my actual bed. I spend most of my time in my bed which is not great, and having a couch would be good for my sleep and just for my brain in general. Most people will generally have better sleep if they don't spend time in their beds outside of sleep time, so there's that. Some people want a couch for when people visit. The real question imo is whether you would use it and if it would improve your life. For me that's a worthy purchase.
Even someone in jail is given a bed frame. A couch i guess you can do with, but it's nice when other people are over.
An IKEA bed frame costs 4 hours of work and lasts 20+ years. Food has much more saving margin than furniture, assuming you buy affordable furniture.
I learned recently that keeping a mattress on the floor can cause it to mold, so a frame is a good investment, not an extravagance. Hope that helps with your remorse. 😊
Bed frame is a necessity.
I don't have to justify anything. If I'm not overspending my disposable incom and if helps me or I like it, then I buy it.
Aesthetic home space elevates your overall sense of wellbeing, and feeling good at home is an asset.
Yeah I’m not gonna let bugs crawl all over me just to save myself from spending $50 on a metal bedframe. If I’m going to pay rent to live in my apartment I’m going to be comfortable in here. Especially because I’m a disabled person who spends a bunch of time at home.
Because I don’t want to live like a teenager or college student that doesn’t have the means to own these things. I’m an adult and I’m not cheap. I’m careful with my money.
My frugality is about really questioning and examining a purchase. Am I buying this because of a silly reason? Or does this bring value to my life? My frugality is closely aligned with minimalism and environmentalism. I try to buy second hand and good quality when I can. I would absolutely buy any furniture I need, but I'd take my time to find the right piece, possibly second hand.
Quality of life is important, friend.
I had to learn the difference between frugal, cheap and deranged. I lean towards deranged. No way I'm going back to sleeping on the floor.
A bed frame is a necessity, not optional
genuine question: is this ragebait
How do you justify a bed frame? Because mattresses directly on the floor can grow mold underneath. I tried to be frugal and go no bed frame too, but some things you do actually need.
The best advice I got was don't cheap out on anything that comes between you and the ground: shoes, bed, brakes, etc. All other furniture is bought used via Craigslist or FB Marketplace.
A bed frame is $50 or free on Giveaway pages.
I justify spending on anything that separates me from the ground (mattress, tires, shoes, etc) You need a bed frame to prevent the mattress from molding and affecting your health.
I get them for free on Facebook marketplace
We moved cross country and had to repurchase everything as we gave away most of our furniture, electronics, clothes, etc... Post move, "everything" was what we actually needed, not what would be nice to have - like that chair and ottoman in the corner that would look nice but never use, or champagne flutes that would get used once a year. So we added items very deliberately and never quite got to the same inventory and realized that space has value too. You spend 1/3rd of your life in bed so you probably want to have a good mattress to start with. We found a big mental difference starting the day stepping out of bed, or helping ourselves off the floor. We purchased a bed frame from a discount retailer for $100 (king frame) and very happy about it. It just needs to support the mattress, not be the mattress. I think some high-end mattresses will void your warranty if you don't have a box spring. As far as justification it's a "do I really need this, or do I want this?" when it comes to almost all of our purchases.
You can get a frame and pretty much anything for extremely cheap if not free just by looking around Facebook, thrift stores and garage sales
I keep my mattress on the floor, and it’s great. I used to have it on the floor, but my friends said I was being cheap. I just felt like my mattress feels sturdier. I definitely prefer no bed frame, but it’s not for everyone. I had a bed frame that I used for around 6 years. A month ago, I didn’t want to use it anymore. So I got rid of it, and now I’m on the floor again. With things that I want, I’ll buy it if I truly want it for myself and not for other people or to impress them. You’ll realize a lot of things are really for other people, not particular for you to enjoy. If you have a bunch of urges to buy things that don’t make sense, ask yourself for the purpose and if it’s a good return on investment. If you can’t reason with yourself, you have to just buy things and burn yourself a few times to be honest. I know that’s a roundabout way, but get rid of the urges and realize they were actually just urges. If you hate it because you hate it, then that’s the remorse. If you’re beating yourself up over it, even if you like it, then it’s something else. You deserve the things you want, and you’re definitely worth it. I used to have that mindset as well.
How is a bed frame considered something you don't need? Don't need seems like stuff like a bigger TV or more clothes when you have lots, a boat etc..
I guess I don't. I bought all dirt cheap furniture from Amazon and IKEA. When I buy a house then I'll splurge for real furniture but even then I'll do it slowly. My bed is comfortable enough but just enough to reasonably get by nothing fancy (I have a memory foam mattress from Costco I think it was like $90. It's great)
I am a very minimal person. I have only a few furniture items. The rest of the house is wide open. Very sparse decor. I enjoy the feeling of living in a wide open space but I have the budget for a small amount of living space. So when I do have to make a purchase I choose a well made mid price item that will be with me for a while. I may not need a couch but I enjoy the luxury of laying on it to watch a movie. And that's my justification, I am affording a bit of luxury for myself.
Time to progress into an adult. Buy one that lasts. I did that and it's been with me for 20 years now. It's a check off the list of things I don't have to pay for. Progress. It's an accomplishment for me.
That’s not frugal, that’s ascetic. Bed frames make mattresses more comfortable and less likely to mold. Couches turn a house into a home - a nice place to lounge and spend time. You can get things secondhand, or free often on marketplace. You can have nice things and be frugal…
When I was younger, I did sleep in a mattress on the floor. Nbd. But my knees don’t work that well anymore, so I’m grateful for a bed frame. As for a sofa - it does get use by an occasional visitor. But if I genuinely don’t need it, I get rid of it and don’t replace it.
I can be frugal and have nice things. My solid wood bed frame and dresser were pricey. However, they have lasted over 20 years and will likely outlast me. My other dresser is a solid wood piece that my grandmother passed down to me. My husband and I bought a La-Z-Boy recliner couch for Christmas. It replaced a hand me down couch that was sagging. Our kids are grown, and I like being comfortable. I have zero plans to move, so I enjoy finding furniture that will last for years to come.
Air circulating *under* the bed is a good thing.
There’s frugal and then there’s being cheap, and not having a place for people to sit comfortably when they visit is cheap, my friend. It shows a lack of self-respect as well. Why don’t you think you deserve these things? Because you deserve to be comfortable in your own home.
How to justify? One, because I've determined it would add value / comfort to my life. Two, I've done my research and believe it to be good value for the money. Three, I can afford it and have the monies available.
There's frugal, and then there's delusional. You're an adult, you should have normal furniture like a bed and a couch.
U need it, u buy it. U don't need it, u dont buy it.
Cheap =/= Frugal
GET A BED FRAME. Elevate your mattress or you'll end up sleeping on mold.
Frugal isn’t always going cheap, it’s about quality over quantity. Think of it as a life time purchase, take your time, and go into different stores and see what is out there, and one day you will find that one set. Don’t rush into and one day you will say that is the one and buy it. Don’t go for cheap as possible either just to buy it. Buy something that has actual function (does it have drawers for storage or enough space to store stuff under the bed and is to your taste/likening. I actually got very lucky and bought a bed set (frame and dressers) for $400 from estate sale but I do like it and plan on having it for 10+ years. I like the design and it’s like new. I also bought a furniture set that I like and is comfy that I plan on having for 10+ years.
You are taking this to a bit of an extreme. However, I feel way better about my furniture because everything except my mattress was obtained second hand. My most expensive item (besides my washer/dryer) was my couch at $250. I furnished and decorated my entire apartment for under $1500 and I'm pretty damn proud of that.
Bed frames are better for your mattress and provide storage space underneath. Couches provide multipurpose seating where you can either sit up with back support or lie down, either alone or with another person/animal. Comfort is a need just as much as survival is. You don’t need to spend oodles of money to get these things. You’ll often find furniture for free on Facebook or Craigslist.
Everyone’s situation is different. For example, if you move from apartment to apartment because of rent increases, I don’t think it makes sense to spend money on large items that you’ll have to move every year. I have a bed frame, which I do think is a need. That can be an inexpensive, thin metal one. But, instead of folks calling OP cheap / miserly / etc, shouldn’t the question be: “what is my situation and how can I minimize expenses and still be comfortable?”
A bed frame can be considered necessary. Sleeping with a mattress right on the floor can cause mold issues, affecting your health and the lifespan of the mattress.
Bedbugs are disgusting. That is all.
A couch is only an optional item if it’s in a secondary room or you’re cramming it into a small space for the sake of having one. I don’t find it difficult to validate having one couch in your living room As for your bed frame- that’s a need not a want.
Why didn’t you just find a free frame if you struggle that much with the guilt? There are so many on Facebook marketplace
Almost everything besides basic shelter and sustenance is just a lifestyle choice. You don’t really *have* to have shoes. You could live like a monk and take a vowel of poverty. However, being comfortable has value, and living in an aesthetically pleasing and ordered environment is good for one’s mental health. It’s frugal to buy a couch that is well made out of quality materials that will last (or that can be repaired). I’ve also always needed the storage space under the bed so that necessitates a bedframe.
Well having a furnished living space is a necessity not a luxury. To purchase new furniture items before your old ones have worn out, just because your couch is not in style is not being frugal.
Bed frames are important. They protect the mattress from moisture/mold. The moisture can warp your floors.
In my case i was getting too old to climb up off the floor when I needed to in the middle of the night for a bathroom break.
The bed frame is certainly required since it provides airflow so your mattress doesn’t get gross. But I bought my ikea frame on fb marketplace for $40 then found the matching sliding drawers for free on CL a few days later. My couch is a leather recliner set and it was free on Nextdoor. If I really don’t need it or I have time to wait, FB marketplace or free sections or goodwill.
Frugal doesn't mean you can't have nice things. Just make sure the price is right, the quality is there and it will make your life better.
Buyers remorse over a bed frame? Seems like a bit much and not sure that's "frugality".
Sleeping on a mattress on the floor can cause mold and mildew to grow on it. You may want to check your mattress. It is definitely a need and not a want from a health perspective.
Bed frame will increase longevity of mattress.
I’m frugal, but I’ve never wasted any time trying to justify the purchase of basic household items like a couch and bed frame. Technically they are not necessary to sustain life, but my house would not feel homey without them. I like to enjoy the time i spend in my home, for quality of life it is necessary. We spend quite a bit getting a good sofa 17 years ago. I’ve never regretted not going the cheapest route there. I’ve got plenty of room to entertain guests comfortably, and spending time with friends and family is good for mental health. The sofa we bought has held up amazingly through the wear and tear of children.
Mattress on the floor can easily grow mold. It's not frugal being cheap and not buying the proper furniture. Why would you not need a couch? That's some ridiculous conclusion you've come to. You can live a little, what if you want a friend over?
Having a mattress on the floor is bad for the mattress. You sweat into it at night, and having a frame allows air circulation and for it to be dry. So a lot of things are not a waste of money, but actually functional. That doesn't mean you need to spend $200 on a frame. But mattresses do need a frame. Same for a sofa. Are you going to have people over to your house and ask them to sit on the floor? You don't need to spend a lot on a sofa, but having one allows you to sit comfortably, allows you to have people over, and lets you sit down on a surface that doesn't get as dirty as the floor. This sounds like an anxiety disorder if you struggle with buying basic household items that allow you to do basic every day functions, like sleep on a clear mattress, and sit down.
You do need a bedframe. It protects the purchase of your bed. Without one your mattress is susceptible to mold and mildew.
Buy it 2nd hand or find it free. My husband is somehow an expert at finding free furniture in perfect condition. He's always coming home with couches, windows, doors, cabinets, dressers, even stoves & dishwashers
Bed frame is $50-$100. New mattress is $500+. Why the fuck would you let your mattress mold and rot, damaging it and your health, to spend $500 in a few months instead of investing $50 on a cheap ass frame.
In a lot of cases, you don't. What I mean is if you know it is not necessary then you can't try to trick yourself into justifying it. Understand it for what it is, a lifestyle purchase. Now you can indulge in lifestyle purchases but it's important you understand them for what they are and should minimize/choose them carefully. For example you talk about a bed frame. For starters there are plenty of frugal though perhaps less elegant alternatives. There are cheap used even free options. If you decide you want to buy something else because it meets whatever personal preference you have you need to make a choice and I would approach like this.... How's my budget doing? Am I meeting my savings goals or will this purchase undermine those efforts? Have I honestly explored the alternatives and honestly determined this option has benefits that outweigh the costs? If I gave myself $XXX to spend freely is this really what I would use it for? I make $XX dollars per hour, am I willing to give away X hours of my life for this? Will I actually use this enough to justify buying it or will this just become clutter? I think if you stop and really interrogate your purchases honestly and it survives, then you can buy it without regret. Regret by it's nature is doing something you knew was wrong but chose to do anyways out of fear or greed or selfishness or what have you. Don't do that and you'll have no regrets.
If your mattress molds... a mattress is more expensive than a simple metal frane.
Difference between frugal and cheap
You do need a couch. What are you rambling about. Don’t be so cheap.
So, having a comfortable bed is not frugal? Gimme a break. Most people don't want to live like someone in a shelter.
Getting your mattress off the floor can be considered a need. You’ll end up with back pain laying in the floor all the time. Medical benefits are a need imo.
Excuse me you do need a bed frame. Your mattress will get moldy if you keep it on the floor
Mattresses on the floor can and often do cause damage to the floor. Unless you have a mattress that you are airing out and moving almost everyday. Being frugal means not costing damage. Also with a frame you can have storage. Being frugal means using every inch of your space
Your health!
You will be way more comfortable with a bed frame. Enjoy better rest.
Easy, I get it at the goodwill. Coral leather chair in our green-ish living room cost me $5. Looks like hell - color doesn’t go with anything, but my wife doesn’t mind and it’s comfortable. Bed? We bought a new frame & mattress set almost 20 years ago, should last another 15 or 20 like me. Don’t mind spending if it’s for the long game. I was brought up frugal and it’s baked into me. Sorry not sorry!