How to Budget for Big Expenses

Most of us have a good handle on our monthly budget. We know how much it costs to cover insurance, utilities, housing, and so forth. Those expenses are easier to track because they come up every month. The hard part is finding a way to budget for those occasional items--a vacation, new appliances, or other big outlays that come along less frequently. Here's a simple guide to preparing for those purchases without getting strapped for cash.