If you wake up each morning feeling more tired and sore than you felt when you went to sleep the night before, the culprit may be your mattress. A bad mattress can really take a toll on your health. Before you buy a new mattress, though, you may want to consider a few of these mattress buying tips. After all, a new mattress can be just as uncomfortable to sleep on as your old mattress if it is too soft or too hard.

1. Size matters ? If you wake up clutching at the edge of your full size mattress because the kids have climbed into bed with you again and are lying sideways, then you may want to consider looking at larger beds. However, if you've never had a king size bed, you will want to be sure you have enough room for one. One way to do this is to grab two of your children's twin size mattresses and place them side by side in the area where you want to position your king size mattress. Since a king size mattress is exactly the size of two twin size mattresses, doing this allows you to really see how much room that big bed will take up.

2. Remember Goldilocks ? Some mattresses really are too hard or too soft. If your partner likes soft, cushiony mattresses while you'd prefer to sleep on very firm mattresses, you may want to take a close look at mattresses that allow you to adjust the firmness. For couples that just don't have money in the budget for high tech mattresses, a good compromise is to buy a very firm mattress and place a piece of padding on one side.

3. Don't judge a mattress by its cover ? While a quilted, plushy mattress cover feels and looks nice, it is what is actually under that cover that matters. Ask the mattress salesperson to show you a model of the interior of the mattress. There should be a strong interior structure. Look for sturdy springs and a stuffing material that can spring back instead of permanently compacting.

Finally, once you decide on a mattress, don't forget to ask about special offers. Some mattress stores will deliver the new mattress and set up your bed for free, and some even take your old mattress away for you. Other offers to look for are a free bed frame or a discounted price on bedroom furniture sets with the purchase of a new mattress.