Natural Mattresses or saving for a hybrid WWYD?

[sarah_bella1050]

I want to use our government rebate check thingy for new natural mattresses for the whole family (two twins and a queen). We have a local place that makes and sell mattresses they have this naturally flame retardent material (I can't remember the name of it, but I think it's from Finland or something) that they use along with cotton fill to make a nice non-toxin mattress.

Dh wants to put it into savings for his Prius we plan to buy. With that, our current savings and the extra work he will be doing this summer we should be able to get a used one within 10-12 months. It will probably be an 2000-2002 with 100+ miles off Ebay

Both are good ideas, but we just don't know what to do???

[lotus.blossom]

Personally I would buy the mattress. You probably spend a lot more time sleeping then you do driving, and frankly hybrids are not all they're cracked up to be. Replacement batteries are extremely expensive and unless you live in a city (??) they aren't really that cost effective.

(I'm a fan of grease cars for environmental factors)

[newclementine]

If you already have old mattresses (and are replacing old mattresses) then I would def go for the Pruis. They are awesome! My dad has one and we love it. We will have one too (or a similar hybrid) when we have the cash. I'm not sure about the battery problem is that was mentioned, I've never heard of that before. Isn't that the kind of thing anti-hybrid full size suv people say? Anyway, hooray Pruis !!!!!

[sarah_bella1050]

We looked into the grease cars a lot too, and would love to get one, but we don't have the space required to do the filtering and everything envolved with making the fuel

[lotus.blossom]

I'm not anti-hybrid I just feel like they are not worth their money in the country. It was explained to me that when you brake the battery kicks in. Where I live I can drive 30 miles with only one or two brakes. Its not worth it to me. A latex mattress is more worth it to me. Just my .02

[Logan's Mom]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

Personally I would buy the mattress. You probably spend a lot more time sleeping then you do driving, and frankly hybrids are not all they're cracked up to be. Replacement batteries are extremely expensive and unless you live in a city (??) they aren't really that cost effective.

(I'm a fan of grease cars for environmental factors)

:

I agree 100% that unless you do a ton of stop and go traffic, a hybrid isn't as useful to you as you might think. Most batteries are warrantied for 10 years (not sure of the mileage, it may be 100,000) and they are very expensive. I would never recommend buying a vehicle with 100,000+ miles unless it was a darn good deal. Now a vehicle a couple years old with low mileage, that is a whole other story.

[artemis33]

mattresses!

[newclementine]

Ok, got to stick up for the hybrids!

First let me tell you for context purposes that when we move this summer I really want to buy a bigger mattress and if when we do, it will be latex b/c I really don't want anymore new toxins going into me and the family.

But I would still go with the hybrid. Yes, when you brake the battery kicks in, and when you idle, and when you go slow and also when you coast. So whenever you're warming up the car, slowing down or at a stop light, or going down hill you aren't burning fuel. Even in the country you have to stop at lights! and there are hills if I remember correctly.

That said, the best place for a hybrid is in the city - I live in NYC now and there are some cabs that are hybrids now- hooray! I wish they all were.

Why not take the money you would save on gas and buy the mattresses in a few months? Since you're not buying a new mattress and therefore will not be exposed to the initial off-gassing period.

[weliveintheforest]

If it were me, I'd go with the mattresses first.

[zo's ma]

I'd go for the mattress.

I'd be worried about buying a hybrid that was that old and high mileage. I've read sruff that says that hybrid technology is going to explode in the next few years and we are going to see really high MPG ratings.

We chose not to buy a hybrid this go round for that reason. We paid 10K less for a Corolla and get nearly 40 MPG. I know someone who, is a lousy driver, and gets an average of 40MPG in her Prius.

[marimara]

I would go with the Prius. You'll save more money in the long run. Gas is $3.29 per GALLON where I live. I had a Prius and loved it. I lived in the country and did some city driving. I always averaged 50 mpg. A mattress won't save you $. After you save $ from gas, then buy the mattresses!

[mumkenna&lucas]

Originally Posted by tumblingstar

I would go with the Prius.

This is what I would say as well, but I am in the minority on this one

[greenmansions]

I vote for mattresses - you are on them for fully 1/3 of your life and they have direct effect on your health and especially that of your kids

I have the same thoughts as the pp's about delaying a hybrid purchase.