Spending quality time with the family beats material possessions and holidays in new happiness poll 1,000 parents quizzed about priorities and what they deem luxury Time spent with the family trumps relaxing after you become a parent Quality time tops possessions, money and career as key to happiness We are often fed the notion that wealth, a successful career and material possessions are the crucial ingredients of a happy life. But new research reveals an overwhelming 95 per cent of parents actually believe the key to happiness lies in spending quality family time together. The new research study of couples pre and post parenthood has found that mothers and fathers are shunning sports cars, jewellery and posh clothes in favour of what they say is the ultimate luxury - spending time with their family. An overwhelming 95 per cent of parents believe the key to happiness lies in spending quality family time A family day out topped a list of life's ultimate luxuries, according to the research beating exotic foreign holidays, flash designer clothes, diamond jewellery, pampering and sports cars. Only one in 20 British parents believed that luxury was more about material wealth and possessions than quality time with the family. More than 1,000 UK parents of children aged up to 16 took part in the research study, entitled The Redefinition of Life's Luxuries. In particular, the study, aimed to examine how holidaying priorities and definitions of luxury change pre and post parenthood. Top finds from the study of over 1,000 parents Parents define true luxury as time with their families, not money Exotic foreign holidays were markedly less important than family time A simple weekend lie-in was a luxury for 45 per cent of parents While a quarter of parents said an afternoon snooze made them happy 55 per cent defined eating out (and not having to clear up) as their treat A third said reading a book or magazine uninterrupted was their luxury And a fifth of parents said they had not had a free afternoon for a year The study also sought to explore what Britain's parents really want from a holiday or short break. A spokesman for Luxury Family Hotels who commissioned the research said: 'It is very telling that quality time as a family was seen as the most important priority for a large majority parents over and above material possessions, money and careers. Society is increasingly materialistic and the message from modern celebrities seems to be that fashion, exotic foreign holidays and bling are the important things. But this research proves that British most parents still believe there is more to life than simply working and spending their hard-earned wages on material possessions like cars and designer clothes. Before having children almost half of parents prioritise rest and relaxation for a luxury break. Afterwards, quality time with the family comes top with nearly 70 per cent naming it their priority The research shows there may still be some way to go before parents are really able put aside work guilt-free and spend more time with their families. While they overwhelmingly agreed family time with their children was the key to happiness, two-thirds admitted they had worked hard to achieve financial goals at the expense of it. That figure rose to three-quarters among dads, and those regrets were the highest among younger parents in their late twenties and early thirties, and those in London, suggesting younger families and those living in the capital feel under greater pressure to work hard at the expense of time with their children. Luxury Family Hotels also quizzed British parents on their definition of a luxury holiday - before and after they had children - with markedly differing results. Before having children, just under half of parents placed rest, relaxation and recuperation top of their list of priorities for a luxury break. A quarter think a holiday is luxury while only eight per cent rate designer clothes and six per cent a sports car Afterwards, it overwhelmingly became quality time spent with the family with nearly 70 per cent naming it their priority. Holidaying somewhere exotic and glamorous before your friends have been there - the second most popular priority before kids, according to a quarter of respondents - was only viewed as important by six per cent of parents after they had had children. Interestingly, intrepid adventure and exploration scored more highly as a priority for parents after they had had children - the third most popular holiday priority compared to the sixth most important among vacationing parents before they had children. Overall, however, a family day out was seen as the most important priority among all parents, with a comfortable 62 per cent of respondents placing it above any other luxury in the research. 68 per cent of parents feel they have worked hard for financial goals at the expense of family time. Parents were asked to define what they deem luxurious Splashing in the sea/building sandcastles with my child (ren) got a 38 per cent vote for luxury Family day out - 61 per cent Eating out with the family and not having to clear up afterwards - 55 per cent Having quality time with family without having to rush to clubs/parties - 50 per cent Sleeping in on a weekend - 45 per cent A romantic meal with partner (while the kids are being looked after) - 42 per cent Splashing in the sea/building sandcastles with my child (ren) - 38 per cent Reading a book/magazine/newspaper without being interrupted - 34 per cent Someone else look after the children for a few hours, giving you free time - 32 per cent Exotic holiday abroad - 26 per cent Lounging by a swimming pool - 26 per cent Afternoon snooze without being disturbed - 25 per cent Spa experience/pampering - 19 per cent Designer clothes - 8 per cent Sports car - 6 per cent Diamond jewellery - 6 per cent