London: "Money cannot buy happiness". This long-standing saying has been proved right once again by a new UK survey, which found that those Brits who earn modest wages lead far more contented lives than big earners.

Researchers quizzed 10,000 workers and 5,000 families and found the happiest Brits earn just 255 Pounds a week, according to a report in 'The Sun'.

Average UK pay is 19,936 Pounds a year, but people earning just two-thirds of that – 13,290 pounds – were the most satisfied, the survey revealed.

The report authors also discovered that a third of the super-rich were unhappy. "One of the reasons the low paid seem happier could be that they work less hours and have less responsibility so they are less stressed," said report co-author Dr Rannia Leontaridi from Aberdeen University.

"Money is not everything and just because they can't afford a big holiday or a smart car, it doesn't mean they are not content," Leontaridi added.

The poll asked workers for their hourly wage, then to rate from one to seven their satisfaction with work, pay, hours, their boss, job security and opportunities for promotion, the report said.

It showed that moving up the salary scale at work does not always lead to job satisfaction. Moreover, the researchers found men were more preoccupied with salaries than women, while women were more concerned about how many hours they worked, it added.

ANI