Bill and I have had the same bed for the last 11 years.
When we first got married and were living in Maryland, we discovered an IKEA within an hour's drive from our first home. Like every poor newlywed couple, we furnished our home with the wonderfully inexpensive, infuriatingly constructed Eurocrap. It only took us 10 days to assemble our new dining room table, sofa and bed - the only 3 items in our entire house, besides splurging on a $500 TV which at the time seemed really expensive.
At 22 years old, when all of our extra money seemed better spent on clothing, movies, eating out at restaurants and adventuring, we convinced ourselves the full-size bed would do just fine (because it was the cheapest). And the model sans headboard and boxspring was perfectly comfortable (because it was the cheapest). And the natural wood "finish" was actually prettier than the darker wood (because it was the cheapest).
Over the next 11 years, we moved 5 times from the east coast to Germany, then west coast, desert, back to east coast and now on the west coast again. Our little full-size bed has made the trip with us and managed to hold itself together even missing support slats and carrying more weight each year (ahem... 3 pregnancies here, people... I can't speak for Bill on this one...). Needless to say, it has seen its fair share of wear and tear and surprisingly has survived pretty well for a cheap little bed.
Once we moved to CA this last time, we discussed buying a new bed, and as of right now, our cheap asses still haven't bought one. Yet again, we've convinced ourselves we can use the money for better things, like 3 growing boys, vacations and trips, 3 hungry boys, birthdays and holidays, and did I mention 3 growing and hungry boys?
Last night I spent most of the night with a mustached-man that felt like he was running a one thousand degree temperature who I think may possibly have the HEAVIEST leg of any person alive all up in my business while I tried to sleep. Every time I tried to move, that leg of lead was holding me down and scalding my skin with its insane warmth. So when I woke up this morning, I decided all I want for Christmas this year is a bed.
A real grown up bed. A Queen size bed. That isn't missing pieces. That has two different areas on the bed for two grown people to sleep without touching, if they don't want to.
Sure I'll miss our little mini-bed that has been with us through so much life. It may be a little bittersweet letting go of those memories... and all that money. But better the bed than murdering my husband in his sleep.
ahhh ikea. i hope we dont have ours for 11 years :)
ReplyDeleteyou are so funny. i was cracking up over the leg of lead.
We bought a semi-cheap bedroom set back in....99? About there. Our first bed was a "bed in a box" that we bought at the px. I'm pretty sure the headboard, dresser, nightstands, and armoire cost a massive combined total of $200. So we "splurged" on a new set with normal sized dressers and had actual wood in a few places. :) After a couple of moves, we quit setting the bed up at all, and our mattress (plus box spring) has been resting right on the floor for the last five years (in three different homes). I totally understand wanting to spend your money on something else. It's hard to spend that much money on something that is just inconvenient. I'm currently wrestling with the idea of spending a grand or two on a new mattress, which is what we desparately need. Hard to know if it's going to make SUCH a difference that it's worth spending a vacation's worth of money, right? A bed, or a vacation? A mattress or hire a maid? Holy crap, I bet I could get a year of maid service for the price of one of the high end mattresses. Wow, I might have to think about that one....would I get more rest on a nice bed or would I feel more rested if my house were clean and I had the time and energy to enjoy it?
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'm not help to you. That was sort of like a therapy session for me, lol. At any rate, it's hard to make that choice, so I get why you've waited so long. I'll bet you'll feel like legitimate grown-ups when you get your new bed. :) I hope you love it!
So THAT'S how you got to 3 kids. You guys can't get off of each other even if you want to! A full-size bed? You've got to be kidding me! We have a queen and I still want more room (especially on the mornings Leah wakes up at 5:30 and I take her in to bed with me to snuggle/nurse for an hour and a half).
ReplyDeleteMy advice? Get the King!
You're so funny! (Glad I found your new blog by the way). I have been jonesing for a King size for a while now, but after reading this I am perfectly content with my Queen that we have had for almost 9 years by the way. :)
ReplyDeleteI love reading your stuff. I was sitting here bored out of my mind at work and I remembered you had a blog here. Thanks for making my day better! ;)
ReplyDelete