If your family is feeling the financial pinch right now with higher gas prices driving up the cost of everything, you probably think that the wealthy have a whole lot less to worry about.

But we often hear otherwise.

While having enough money to complete the drive to work may not be the primary concern of those who are financially well-off, raising children is a particular challenge.

Reason: Wealth does not always spell happiness. And children in wealthy families are not necessarily aware of the tremendous benefit that money brings because they've never been without money.

In fact, having a ton of money can place a great deal of stress on family relationships.

"They already know the trust fund is coming when they turn 18, 21 or 25," a psychiatrist for the wealthy once told us. "It creates a disincentive to do other things."

The challenge often is to find a life direction. Meanwhile, the emptiness often is filled up with drugs and alcohol.

"While these children know they'll always have money, often they're sent away to boarding schools and miss out on family love," she said.

A psychologist who counsels the wealthy told us that material possessions too often mask emotional pain.

"If you have emotional pain and you're a bag lady on the street, society tends to feel more gently," the psychologist explained. "If they see somebody in a Gucci at the airport with diamonds, the feeling is nastier."

Wealthy children must deal with a lot of issues. If they hang out with other children who have a lot of money, they may feel pressure to keep up.

On the other hand, if a child is among the wealthiest of his or her friends, the friends may not be able to afford to keep up with his or her spending. Plus, children from a wealthy family must deal with the gnawing feeling that they somehow must be productive.

The answer: Regardless of how much wealth you have, start requiring children to perform certain duties or chores in exchange for an allowance.

On the other hand, giving someone money can't be a shortcut to spending time and demonstrating the right way to act -- no matter how much money you have.

Conduct clear\u2011cut discussions about how your child wants to spend the money he or she gets. You need to help your child determine what portion will be spent and what portion should go into a savings account. Have your child examine financial records and grow familiar with accounting procedures.

If you have excess money, consider having your children share in your philanthropy. Have frank discussions about where your family stands financially in the community, and where the child's friends are financially. Discuss the concept of sharing.

Watch extremely closely to see that your child doesn't get overly caught up in spending. A sudden need to spend money on material possessions could be a sign of deeper emotional problems.

If a child wants a ridiculously expensive pair of sneakers, for example, it is important to explain that it could prove much more worthwhile to spend some of that money on somebody else instead.

Make certain you carefully monitor your child's reaction to being told "no." If it's very intense or persistent, consider approaching the child at a quiet time to discuss it in more depth.