Can't buy me love

I read a really interesting article about happiness in national geographic (August 06) the other day. It wasn't actually about happiness but that was one of the take home message for me. It's well worth a read if you can get your hands on it especially from a Christian perspective. Basically it argues that modern environmentalism needs to be about changing the very foundation of society.
At present society believes we need stuff to make us happy and to keep us secure. We need an ever expanding economy to cater for our material desires but as we know stuff doesn't make us happy, not in the long run. The author calls for a shift in focus, a meaning of life that isn't about stuff. He points to religion as a framework for a society that is built on something other than material excess.
My question for you is do we live lives that reflect what we believe or do we buy the lie that stuff makes us happy??? I think I know the truth and try to live the truth but get sucked in too easily. I want to live the truth.