Flash cars, expensive clothes and a bottomless pit of money, or a permanent smile and a feeling of wellbeing?

Ah, the age old money versus happiness dilemma. We tend to think it’s a trade-off where you can have one or the other. Countries have happiness indexes alongside economic indexes as a guide to a society’s wellbeing, but we’re also encouraged at times through advertising and other messages to accumulate and purchase as much as we can. It’s easy to be seduced.

On the flipside, it’s easy to place too much importance on happiness, when part of the meaning of life is to have highs and lows, and feeling content should be enough. So we all struggle to find balance between the two, as Drew and his mother Jazz are finding out.

Jazz arrives in town simply to get her hands on the large sum of money she knew Drew was going to inherit from his estranged grandmother. What she didn’t factor in was the overwhelming feeling of happiness that would come from developing a bond and enjoying time spent in her son’s company (remember the gorgeous boat trip with Belle?), and how that would affect her original motivation.

Drew also succumbed to the warm and fuzzy feelings that came with patching things up with his mum. The ultimate expression of this was when Drew chose happiness over money and generously offered half of his inheritance to Jazz, even though the money would have helped him replace The Beast and spoil Belle with a lovely surprise.

When Drew finds out Jazz could have been playing him for a fool, understandably, he is mortified and feels betrayed. He’s just experienced the tug of war between money and happiness and what’s worse, it’s through the lens of betrayal.

We asked some of the cast what they would do if they were lucky enough to inherit a large sum of money, without the complications Drew is experiencing. Here’s what they said:

James Mitchell, who plays Jonah: ‘I’d put it into property investment, a beach house, a big place that all of my friends could live in rent-free!’

Todd Lasance, who plays Aden, has some sage advice: ‘Money can bring happiness to a degree, but unless you are happy within yourself, money will only add a percentage to what you’ve already got.’

As does Gabrielle Scollay, who plays Tam,(on-air next week) with these wise words: ‘I don’t think money can buy that much these days. So many kids have all this technology and money from their parents, there’s nothing they could do to make them any happier’

What do you think? Have you ever been in a position where money has brought you happiness, or vice versa? Write to 'Money v Happiness' homeandaway@seven.com.au

Hanna: I believe that money brings happiness to an extent. At present, I am miserable and tired. I work 20 hours a week earning only $200, and am studying at university. I am 19, do not live at home, and am not given money by anyone. The money that I earn each week goes into rent, leaving me with very little for food, and none for clothing and entertainment. I wake up for work at 6am and this ruins my day because of the inconvenience of working for a few hours each day.

If I had even $50 more each week, I would be able to buy clothes. Having old clothing makes me feel unattractive and unpopular. My self esteem has plummeted since I started working because I never see any reward for my efforts and am constantly tired from this mundane lifestyle.

I do not want money to rule my life and happiness but the reality shows that it does. I was happy and carefree when my life was not constrained by constantly worrying whether I will have enough money to buy food each week.