It may be doom and gloom as far as our finances are concerned, but Brits still have a song in their hearts and a spring in their steps according to a new study.
Half the British public claim to be happy, according to a survey by Mr Kipling cakes, published to coincide with the so-called happiest day of the year today.
Despite the rising cost of living, falling house prices, and many families not being abl
e to afford a summer holiday, we're still managing to put a smile on our faces.
In fact, it may be comforting to learn that being a high earner doesn't automatically lift the spirits.
Researchers found that those earning under £60,000 per year are the happiest – and location plays a part too.
Bristol is the happiest city to live in according to the survey, but it's cloudy skies over Newcastle, which fairs the worst.
Yorkshire has its fair share of happy people with York coming in third and Sheffield fifth in the list of Britain's happiest cities.
The Happiness Report says over a third of us are happy 75 per cent of the time.
Ian Lynch, co-director of The Happiness Project says: "Wednesday's date lies around the summer solstice and there's no doubt the weather encourages happiness.
"But to be really happy, you have to look at the small things in life. It's not about chasing the big dream and putting value into the bigger things in life such as promotions, houses or boats.
"It's an ironic thing that the happiest are those who can put value each day into the smaller things, like sharing good conversation."
The full article contains 284 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
