Many years ago I watched a programme on TV about "Managing your money" and there was a very wise man on there who said that he had "about 20 savings accounts and put a small amount of money into each every month" to save there being any large scary bills once a year, or once every few years.I decided about 2 years ago to adopt this scheme, but perhaps not quite to his extreme, and this is what I now do, which so far appears to be working exceptionally well.

• Christmas Account - £25 per month (Allows for  £300 of present buying every Christmas)
• White Goods Account - £8 per month (Allows for 1 new white-goods appliance every 5 years)
• Car Insurance Account -   £19 per month (Allows for my car insurance at £230 per year)
• Car Servicing and Tyres Account - £35 per month (Allows for one service every year and new tyres every 5 years)
• Car Road Tax Account - £40 per month (The real down-side of owning large 4x4 family vehicle - the extortionate road tax of £460 per year)
• House Fixing Account - £5 per month (To allow for minor fixtures and fittings a lightbulbs etc)
• Birthdays Account - £15 per month (Gets expensive with a large family!)
• Rates Account - £50 per month (The equivalent of council tax for those on the UK Mainland)
• Clothing and Shoes Account - £3 per month (A new jumper or pair of jeans most years and a new pair of trainers every 3 years)
• Heating Account - £50 per month (Allows for a fill up of oil once per year at £560)

Total outgoings to savings accounts every month:  £250.00Hopefully this will give you some ideas! It really does work!