How much do I need to spend on a decent mattress?

[virgil]

We desperately need a new one. Prices seem to vary dramatically and they go to over a thousand pounds. Does anyone know at what point they become really good quality? Around 500 ish??

i would go to a few bed shops and try them out,.
we paid a lot for our mattress, but it was totally worth it. i love it.

but it depends what you like to sleep on really

I tried loads - the ones for less than £300 were rubbish - I found.

I paid £380 for mine from Ikea (king size) but found it in the bargain corner on the way out with £100 off it for having a small dirt mark on it! So really, I paid £280. Its got a latex topper integrated, and its fab, really really comfy!

You need to try them out to find out what is best for you and your OH!

We tried ours out in bed shops to get the right feel (box sprung with memory foam) and then I was looking for new ones on eBay and found one for £50 instead of £5-800... I'd recommend trying there as well. We were lucky in that it was an unwanted part of a bedroom set and had no designer label so the people couldn't sell it for more.