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Keeping your finances in order isn’t always easy, and 2011 may not have been your best year financially.

But if you can learn from the events of this past year – or even just your own personal mistakes – you can set yourself up for a rosier financial picture in 2012.

Here are four crucial financial lessons you could learn from events of 2011:

1. Be prepared for Mother Nature and the unexpected.

All across the globe, Mother Nature showed her awesome power – and fury – reminding us about why it’s so important to prepare for the unexpected.

Who can forget the scenes of devastation in Japan as an earthquake and a tsunami roiled that country? Closer to home, an unprecedented number of deadly tornados swept through the nation’s heartland, including places like Joplin, MO. In fact, the U.S. experienced a record number of 12 weather disasters, which each caused at least $1 billion in damage in 2011.

Such events drive home the importance of having homeowners insurance to protect one’s property and assets; likewise, life insurance is a must.

2. Maintain an emergency savings account at all times.

Emergency savings are there for unexpected events, but running through your savings completely – or failing to stockpile a cash cushion in the first place – could set up you up for financial troubles.

While it’s fine to use some emergency savings to cover expenses in pinch, try to keep a baseline amount in your savings account – even when dealing with a challenging situation like divorce or job loss.

That way, even if a “worse case” scenario occurs, you and your loved ones aren’t left adrift or struggling to overcome dire financial conditions.

Unfortunately, the data isn’t pretty on how much the average U.S. family has saved. The savings rate in America fell to a nearly four-year low of 3.3 percent in September 2011, and even in October 2011 it stood at just 3.5 percent.

A lack of a savings safety net, among other factors, has contributed to the U.S. having a record 46 million people now receiving food stamps. Also, a growing number of individuals and families – nearly all of who lack meaningful savings – are battling problems like foreclosure and homelessness too.

The lesson: Work on boosting your savings account whenever possible and make 2012 the year that saving more money becomes a priority.

3. Dump your debt and that credit card habit.

The shopping frenzy that took place during Black Friday and Cyber Monday had many people asking: “What recession?” But one explanation is that the $54 billion spending binge many Americans went on was fueled largely by credit – not cash.

So come January 2012, when the credit card bills roll in, many folks are going to have a serious debt hangover and will ask themselves: “How can I get out of debt?” In fact, Consumer Reports says that in December 2011, there were 14 million Americans already still dealing with credit card debt from the 2010 holiday season.

The best credit cards have great perks. They feature relatively low rates, offer convenience, ease of use, and provide tangible benefits like cash back deals, travel miles and other rewards. Credit cards can also hold you over during an economically stressful time. But make sure you don’t end up feeding an unhealthy credit card habit.

If you find yourself living on credit, and becoming dependent on credit cards for everyday expenses, you’re putting yourself on the fast track to serious debt and bigger financial problems down the road.

Take steps to break out of unhealthy credit card spending habits so that you are managing your credit and debt wisely.

4. Keep your credit rating in tip-top shape, or work to get it there.

Speaking of credit, it was a tumultuous time in 2011 for practically everyone’s credit rating – from individuals to our federal government.

Standard & Poor’s, the ratings agency, downgraded the AAA credit status of the United States for the first time ever, leading to worries at home and abroad about America’s ability to tackle its fiscal woes. Those concerns certainly didn’t ease following the super failure of the bi-partisan Congressional “super committee” that President Barack Obama tasked with figuring out how to slash $1.2 trillion from the deficit.

Regardless of your political leanings, few Americans would argue with the merits of maintaining the nation’s financial strength and keeping its credit rating as strong as possible.

Similarly, if 2011 taught us anything, it’s that individuals also need to carefully guard their credit. Not doing so can cause problems ranging from identity theft to missed employment opportunities. So work on your credit rating and even try to achieve Perfect Credit.

Have You Learned From Your Mistakes and Others?

So if 2011 was a financial bust for you, at least take a cue from these important events and use them as a catalyst to fix your own financial woes or avoid financial mistakes in 2012.

After all, learning from one’s mistakes – or even other people’s blunders – is one of the best ways to make positive changes with your finances and achieve economic progress.

But if you never learn the key lessons illustrated above, of if you keep repeating the same goofs year after year, you can expect to be in the same financial situation time and time again.

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