How Cheap is Too Cheap?

[Mulveyteach]

Are u near an ikea? They have bed sheets and the lowest thread count are the ones we have and they're fine, esp after several washes they soften right up


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[lovemuffin99]

not sure if there a sears clearance near you but last few times I've gotten a comforter for $8, fitted sheet $3, pillow cases $1 and loose mix matched sheets for $5. On good days you an find quite a few deals on household stuff

[Chantel]

Seriously? Your bills are your husband's bills. He should understand if you're too swamped with bills to afford new sheets.

Perhaps ask around and see if there is anyone you know with a sewing machine that could either sew the rip or show you how if you don't know how.

But there's very little chance that you can get brand new sheets free, and cheap is really luck of the draw. Washing your sheets in boiling water kills bedbugs anyway. If you've ever slept at someone else's house or in a hotel, you've slept on 'used' sheets.

I've bought plenty of sheets used. I inspect for stains, rips, or holes, and always wash in boiling/really hot water when I get home. No bedbugs. There's nothing grosser about secondhand sheets than there is eating at a restaurant where thousands have people have used the same fork and plate as you. It all gets washed and sterilized.

If I were in your position, I would either get them at a secondhand store or get them on a freecycle or secondhand facebook page. Beggars can't be choosers.

[PurpleBunny89]

My mom comes in handy for this type of stuff because she loves sewing. Anything that ever rips goes to her house. The newest thing she has started doing is making the flat sheets into fitted sheets. This is amazing because we never use flat sheets so its like re-purposing something we had no use for. I'm not sure if you know anyone with such a skill set but if you do become their best friend.

In regards to sheets though in the future I'd suggest always having a back up set. It comes in handy for times like these, if you have pets who make certain messes on the bed sometimes or if you're just too lazy to wash and put on right away the same set.

And you're really lucky because double sizes are really cheap. We have a king and although I LOVE how big it is when sleeping with DH it sure bites when you have to buy new sheets or comforters.

[bmaven]

The sewing is a good option and if you do it by hand might make it more durable (sewing around the rip not the rip together). My mom wanted her machine back (the one that was mine) and I ended up doing a whole slipcover for my couch by hand! Just threw on a disc of mad men and got to it lol- really won't take too long but I guess it depends on your patience level


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[torontogal12]

You might want to check Target.On the clearance thread, it looks like bedding is 70% off

[anastasia1009]

Sometimes you can find bedsheets at second hand stores that aren`t even opened. Still brand new in packaging.

I found a few blankets and curtains once in the package. or just get one second hand and wash in hot water to kill any potential bugs and hot dryer for 45min

[Frugalbigmama]

Do what you have to do. For me paying your bills off is more important then new sheets. I lived with hand me down furniture etc for years so I could sock every extra penny on my mortgage. Security is more important to me then new sheets. (and I need new sheets too now lol)

[Tinkerbella]

Bed bugs can be brought in on ANYTHING, soft or hard. Washing machine WILL NOT kill them, it takes about 25-50 minutes on high heat in the dryer (for already dry items.)

The cost of bed bugs is in the THOUSANDS for exterminations if you own your own home, MOVING if you live in an apartment (as they almost ALWAYS come back immediately) plus possibly throwing out of all your furniture if the exterminations don't work.

It is 100% NOT worth it to buy clothes/bedding/plush toys second hand.

[Chantel]

Bed bugs can be brought in on ANYTHING, soft or hard. Washing machine WILL NOT kill them, it takes about 25-50 minutes on high heat in the dryer (for already dry items.)

The cost of bed bugs is in the THOUSANDS for exterminations if you own your own home, MOVING if you live in an apartment (as they almost ALWAYS come back immediately) plus possibly throwing out of all your furniture if the exterminations don't work.

It is 100% NOT worth it to buy clothes/bedding/plush toys second hand.

A WASHING MACHINE will not kill bed bugs, because the water doesn't get hot enough. Boiling water will kill them. So when one arrives home with used sheets, the best course of action would probably be to stick them in the bathtub and pour a couple stock-pots worth of boiling water on them and allowing them to sit in it. Perhaps drain and repeat. Then after that, wash in as hot of water as your washer will do and dry on hot, just for good measure.

The one person I know who has gotten bedbugs was like you, paranoid of getting them and wouldn't buy used stuff. So she had thousands and thousands of dollars of brand new carpeting, furniture, bedding and clothes, and had to burn ALL of it because she brought home bedbugs from sitting on the seats at her doctor's office. You can be as careful as you want, you can't stop everything.

[sweetmomma]

Perhaps, OP can try at Superstore Joe Fresh sheets are often reasonable!

[Tinkerbella]

Very true Chantel, I don't sit on any public chair that has fabric on it.

[Tinkerbella]

But why in the world would she burn it?

[thriftygranny]

yes it is possible to take bed bugs home (and not just from bedding) - anything "soft" second hand you bring in should be sealed in a bag and washed to minimize the possibility. Stores can get bed bugs too though, so buying new doesn't 100% protect you

Walmart had sheets on sale for about $9 last time I was there

Bed bugs also like to travel in furniture especially under drawers and screw holes and crevices. Target usually has great sheet clearance.. good luck!

[Zonny]

I bought double microfibre sheets at Costco recently for DS's bed. They seem to be fairly decent (although cannot comment on longevity, have only had them a few months). But they were only $20, and they're quite soft. Haven't faded with washings either (DS is eight but does not wake up to pee, wears protection to bed but sometimes it fails).