Accoding to a Living Well Index published in Great Britain, which looks at how people cope best with the stresses of modern life, sleeping soundly and having a good sex life have a greater impact on wellbeing than money. Further on, strong relationships with family and friends, job security and the good health of loved ones are also much more important than flash cars and exotic holidays.

Researchers claim that those who regularly get a good night's sleep enjoy an improvement in wellbeing greater than the impact of a four-fold increase in spending money. "Sleep was the strongest indicator of a broader sense of wellbeing," they said. "The majority of those with the highest Living Well scores reported feeling well rested most of the time, while more than half of those in the bottom 20 per cent of the Index said that they rarely, or never, felt well rested."

Across the population, just over a third said they were fairly or very satisfied with their sex lives. Researchers revealed job security ranked number three in a measure of wellbeing.

The study found most people are more concerned about the health of close relatives, rather than their own ailments. And being part of a community can offer much more comfort than having money in the bank.

Director of Consulting at Oxford Economics Ian Mulheirn said: "The analysis within the Living Well Index reveals that, in a world that's never been more connected, the richness of our relationships and support networks remains among the biggest determinants of how well we live…”.