Pillows are a funny thing, they’re the least likely of suspects but can impact our finances and earning potential for better or worse. I know people that have spent $200 on a pillow they had to replace after one year and people who last replaced their $8 Walmart pillow three years ago. Heck, I know people that don’t even use pillows. What works for one, won’t work for the other but we can all agree to needing support in the areas the impact us most.
When I studied in Japan, I refused to buy a pillow. It was bulky and I didn’t want the hassle to get rid of it at the end of my 3 month stay. Luckily, the dormitory provided buckwheat pillows. Let me tell you, it took half the trip to adjust to that pillow. It was either too hard, or too small but by the end of it I’d fallen in love. Never had I passed out so well and woken without a kinked neck before.
Because I’m a side sleeper, the buckwheat pillow conformed to and supported my neck in a way those cotton, feathered, and foam pillows never could. As it turned out, not only was it supporting, it would last forever and save me a ton of money over my lifetime.
Before my new love interest (buckwheat pillows), I had to buy a new pillow every year due to aging and discomfort from the pillows. No way was I going to spend $50+ on something that’d last a year or two. Color me surprised when I learned buckwheat hulls last practically forever with little degradation.
So what does that mean for my budget?
It means never having to make the yearly trip to the shop. It means saving about $12 per year which allots to a lifetime savings of over $720. It also means I’ll be turning our child onto this type of pillow so he’s gifted with the support and lifetime savings estimated to be nearly $960.
It may not seem like much but the time savings, hassle, and health benefits are well worth the cost.
I spent about 4 years with a full sized adult pillow but switched after our cross-country move to a child’s size. This is mostly due to the weight of the pillow but also size convenience. My two children’s sized pillows (or one adult sized) set me back about $50 between the buckwheat hulls, waterproof covers, and pillow covers. Not too shabby considering I’ve been using them for the last 6 years! I’ve already broke even on this investment.
The best part about getting a great night’s sleep? It impacts your earning potential! Imagine something so simple being the catalyst that sets you back in life. Want to learn about an easy change that will save you thousands and could grow your net worth by over a million if you opted out? Check out our article on it here.
