There’s no getting back to yesterday’s financial normal, and that’s okay.

If you think today’s economy is ever going to get back to yesterday’s definition of “normal,” raise your hand. We don’t see too many hands being raised. But that may not be such a bad thing. The no-money-down mortgage craze a few years back? The “glory years” of credit cards? Living paycheck to paycheck? Spending like there’s no tomorrow? Definitely not normal.

So is the economy cyclical? Yes. Should financial responsibility be cyclical? No. One thing we know for sure is that things always change - and then change some more. And if that’s true, doesn’t it make good sense to tweak your finances? And re-tweak them as needed? We agree with Jeremy that financial actions shouldn’t hinge on people waiting for things to get back to normal.

Here’s our take on NORMAL. It’s normal to have a substantial down payment when you’re purchasing a home. It’s normal to want to earn a good credit score so you can get affordable financing and pay it off quickly. It’s normal to want a nest egg and be prepared for retirement. Welcome to the new normal, Saver.

Tags: Economy, Financial Responsibility