MSE alternative for rubber mats to protect carpet from computer chairs?

Noctu

I'm looking at buying something like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000I6PN5S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=27LFE78LNMO2P&coliid=IJ2ASG2V68QQJ&psc=1
but at nearly £40 I'm balking at the price!
Can anyone please suggest an alternative mat that will actually work - i.e. to protect my nice new carpet from the wheels of my computer chair marking it?
Will a normal mat do the job or do I really need one of these fancy polycarbonate ones?

Mojisola

We had an spare piece of the new carpet whipped on the edges and use that.

torbrex

I got a bamboo slatted mat from Lidl for about £30, I wish I had got it years ago.
It doesnt slip and the chairs wheels run over it easily :T

ChristineL

IKEA do a clear plastic one for £18 that I recommend. I used them in my last house to protect a laminate floor. Over about 15 years of daily use (including 7 years when my office was in my home too) I replaced the IKEA mat twice and when we moved out there wasn't a mark on the floor from the chair. I have another IKEA mat in my new house.

Ant555

We've only just got rid of a large square bathmat that I got from Debenhams years ago.
Purchased to go under computer chair - no longer needed as the lap top tends to get used on the sofa nowadays!