Talk of the Town: Just remember: Don’t worry, be happy!

OK, people! Many of us, including me, are moaning about the cost of living these days. But we can boost our spirits if only by simplifying our lives.

Money doesn’t buy happiness. It buys food and clothing and things we need to sustain life, but that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m referring to all that other fluff stuff—new shoes, trendy clothing—and all the things I could really do without.

Extra dough not only fails to bring joy after basic needs are met, it actually prevents it.

“People who say making a lot of money is important to them are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and headaches—and less likely to report being satisfied with their lives,” says Tim Kasser, Ph.D., author of “The High Price of Materialism.”

According to Kasser’s research, time affluence—feeling you have enough time to pursue the things you want to—is a better predictor of a satisfied life than income.

To avoid thinking about material possessions, drop catalogs into the recycling bin before flipping through them, or suggest to a friend that you catch up over tea rather than at the mall. And if that rush you get from buying a new outfit intervenes, just remember: “Those pleasures only bring the kind of happiness that disappears quickly,” says Kasser. “To achieve lasting contentment, you need to focus on experiences, not things.”