QLD:Discipline the key to happiness: Salt

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2011
QLD:Discipline the key to happiness: Salt

By Evan Schwarten

CAIRNS, Aug 8 AAP - What would make you happy? Wealth? Fame? Power?

Perhaps. But according to one of Australia's leading demographers the key to happiness
is something far less sexy.

KPMG demographer Bernard Salt says having the self-discipline to control the excesses
of modern life is the secret to happiness in 21st century Australia.

"What makes people happy later in life is the ability to make the right choices: in
cultivating strong relationships, in having the ability to manage debt, to build strong
friendships, to maintain a balanced approach to exercise and weight control," Mr Salt
says.

"Manage these things and you are set for a happy life in Australia."

Mr Salt based his findings on a recent KPMG survey of more than 2000 Australians.

The survey found those who were the most unhappy felt they were overweight, burdened
with debt and didn't have enough friends.

External factors such as job security and not being paid enough did not feature prominently,
he said.

"Australians don't see themselves as victims, people are unhappy because of things
that are within their control," he told AAP.

"You are in control of your own happiness, you are in control of your own destiny,
it comes as a result of the decisions you make."

However, it seems money does buy happiness, at least to an extent.

According to the survey those households earning more than $250,000 a year were among
the happiest - although this could be due to people in that range having lower proportional
debts, Mr Salt said.

The least happy group of respondents were people aged 45-49, who were more likely to
have several credit cards, be unhappy in their relationships and the least likely to have
holidays or eat out.

"At that time in life, the stresses are maximised, you've got kids, you've got teenagers,
you've got maximum debt you are trying to pay back, you're trying to get ahead in your
job - it all comes together in your late 40s."

However, for those struggling through their 40s, there are better times ahead - those
in their 60s were among the happiest respondents and among those most likely to take holidays.

AAP ews/jl

KEYWORD: SURVEY

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