Looking for a silver lining in the financial crisis?

There may be one in new attitudes among Americans about spending, saving, and the need to become more informed about financial topics.  That's the implication of a new study from Fidelity about finance-related  New Year's resolutions.

Pshaw, you may say. Don't people always make resolutions about changing their money ways (unless they're thinking about shedding five pounds)? Well, according to the survey of more than 1,000 Americans age 18 and older, 88 percent said the economic crisis will give them an impetus to stick with their resolutions. Also, while 35 percent said they typically consider resolutions regarding their finance, 43 percent responded they're more likely to do so for 2010 than ever before.

 Topping the list were spending less and saving. Fifty-one percent said that saving more money was their main focus, 30 percent chose spending less, and 14 percent making or sticking to a budget.

Also, more than eight in 10 said they're likely to learn more about financial topics. Most popular was setting financial goals (47 percent) and saving for retirement (43 percent). 

 Of course, it would nice if the economic downturn were to result in more substantial changes, like significant financial reform, an end to the asset bubble mentality on Wall Street, meaningful change in executive compensation and so on.  That's looking less and less likely.

Still, an economy that's 70 percent fueled by consumer spending, accompanied by an almost non-existent savings rate,  isn't a long-term, viable proposition. So, the possibility that Americans are sincerely interested in changing their spending habits has to be a positive.

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The Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment was just released. The index rose to 73.4 from 67.4, considerably higher than economists had predicted. It's unlikely these results mean consumers are ready to become spendthrifts again, however, since wage and employment levels are still low.