Virtually everyone knows the saying "Money can’t buy happiness," but it’s amazing how much time, energy, and money is spent trying to convince us otherwise.

Take the Super Bowl. This year companies paid a record $2.4 million for a 30-second ad. It is by far the most-watched television program of the year. Companies will pull out all the stops -- within FCC guidelines -- as they utilize every ad technique in the book to get our attention.

From clothing to cars to vacations to homes, billions of dollars are spent every year trying to convince Americans that if we just buy one more thing, then we will truly be happy.

But a significant amount of research that was recently featured in a Time magazine (Jan. 17, 2005) cover story on happiness suggests otherwise. In a national Time poll, people were asked about their major source of happiness. Believe it or not, money didn’t even crack the top 10. In other research, psychologists found no significant relationship between how much money a person earns and whether he or she feels good about life.

Our national debt numbers would suggest we haven’t quite made that connection. In 2004, the average credit card debt per household was a startling $9,000. If you subtract out those who pay off their credit cards every month, the number rises to jaw dropping $17,000 per household.

Frequently I talk with parents who express their discomfort with the debt trend and in turn are reflecting on their own consumer choices to avoid passing down unhealthy financial habits to their children. On a recent trip to California, Jim, a 43 year-old computer analyst, told me how their family has adopted a new slogan "be thankful for the things you already have."

The key word in that sentence -- already. Jim said that he and his wife Catherine instituted the slogan as much for each other as they did the children. "Let’s face it." he said, "Children follow the lead of their parents and Catherine and I decided we could do a much better job modeling the behavior we wanted them to emulate."

So the next time you are tempted to buy something to lift your spirits think twice before pulling out your credit card. Remember: Money and the debt that will ensue most likely won’t buy happiness.

According to the Time article there are numerous ways to boost your happiness, but a consensus pick among leading psychologists is to express gratitude.

In fact, psychologists from the University of California discovered specific things people can do that are connected to gratitude to boost their happiness. Perhaps no surprise, this links very nicely with our Share Save Spend philosophy.

Here are a few suggestions for everyone in the family:

1. Keep a "gratitude journal." Make a weekly list of the things you are thankful for.
2. Practice acts of kindness. Being kind to others makes you feel generous and capable.
3. Invest time and energy nurturing relationships with family and friends.

What are some ways you can help your children experience happiness?

Consider the suggestions above. My friend Jeff said that one of the greatest memories he has of his grandfather was the time they spent together eating watermelon. I hear that a lot -- happy memories are about time with loved ones and experiences, but rarely about a thing.

This question is designed to build on the Share-Save-Spend tip for the week and can be used as a springboard for additional conversations with family and friends.

According to a Yankelovich Partners poll in 2004, 61 percent of Americans "feel the amount of marketing and advertising is out of control," and 65 percent "think there should be more limits and regulations on marketing and advertising."

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