How to save for a vacation in 6 months

That Zen feeling of burying your toes in the cool sand on a hot day at the beach, the thrill of exploring a new riverside town, a panoramic sunset view savored over a glass of wine. These are the stuff of dreams, and when it comes to vacations, sometimes dreaming and planning is half the fun.

Vacations aren't cheap. But on the flip side, building in time to save also gives you time to plan for dreamy days ahead. How much time you'll need to save depends on the trip you have in mind.

It goes without saying that if you're planning a long weekend mountain getaway, you'll have a different budget — and saving horizon — than if you're saving for a European river cruise.

Read on for our step-by-step guide on how to make a vacation savings plan.

Step 1: Budget for a vacation.

Budgeting for vacation starts with deciding where you want to go. You may already have a destination in mind. But if you don't, this step will help you narrow it down.

Ask yourself the following questions to design your ideal vacation. As you go, think about areas you may come back to if the costs end up exceeding your budget.

Are you driving, flying or taking an RV?

If driving, consider the wear and tear on your vehicle. Vacation days are precious, and you don't want to spend your limited time dealing with repairs in an unfamiliar town. If your car isn't reliable, you may consider renting a car.

Airfare goes up and down all the time. To get the best price, start searching well ahead of your trip and check back frequently. Look for deals via sites like Kayak or Expedia that search multiple carriers. Don't forget to add in costs for airport parking, baggage fees, and meals or snacks in airports during layovers.

If you fly, remember to factor in the cost of a rental car, public transportation or rideshare service once you land at your destination.

For many travelers, an RV feels like a romantic and cost-friendly way to explore. While it's true that you save on lodging costs, RVs burn through gas faster than you might think. If you're traveling in the heat of summer, you'll likely run the generator to power the air conditioner, using even more fuel.

Before you decide to rent an RV, factor in all costs — not just the daily rental fee. The total cost of renting an RV can include insurance and fees for extra mileage, cleaning and a generator.

Where will you stay?

If you have a specific hotel or resort in mind, consider enlisting the help of a travel agent. Also, look for travel bundles that include flight and hotel packages.

Resorts may have pricey onsite amenities, but if you aren't spending money on cabs or rideshare services to go to restaurants, it could be worth it.

Vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo are an alternative to hotels and resorts, and they give you the option to reduce your meal budget by cooking your own food.

What do you want to do?

Ask yourself the purpose of your trip. Maybe you have a specific goal, like fulfilling a personal bucket-list dream of taking your kids to Disney. Maybe you've always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, and you've been waiting until your children reached the perfect age to travel together as a family.

If these examples apply, you can probably build out a budget by answering the questions we've already asked.

But if your goals are vague — like wanting to disconnect from work and be fully present with your family — you can be creative with your vacation solution. Instead of a theme park, you could rent a cabin at a nearby state park where you can explore during the day and have a campfire at night.

When you've decided on your destination, lodging and travel plans, you can create an itinerary for each day that helps you answer the question, “How much money should I take on my vacation?” Walk through each day in your mind and tally up meal costs, tickets to museums and other expenses.

Do you have pets, plants or house needs back at home?

Depending on where you go and what you do, you may be able to take your pets with you. If not, remember to factor in boarding costs or hiring a pet sitter.

Step 2: Create a travel savings account.

Now that you've decided where you're going, how you're getting there and what you'll do, you can add up the costs and make a vacation savings plan.

Let's say you have a vacation fund of $3,000. That includes travel, lodging, dining and activities. Divide that amount by the number of months standing between you and your travel date, and you'll know how much to save each month.

You've heard the phrase "pay yourself first," which refers to automatically depositing money from your paycheck into your retirement account. The same savings method can be helpful for other savings goals, like funding a travel savings account. It's helpful for a few reasons.

• First, you only have to decide once to save, and then without doing a thing, your travel savings account starts to grow.
• Also, you don't end up robbing other important long-term savings goals like retirement to fund your vacation.
• Finally, you'll save money ahead of time that can help fund up-front deposits or purchases, such as theme park tickets.

Step 3: Consider some lifestyle changes.

So you've discovered your trip will cost $3,000, and you have six months to save money in your vacation fund. That means you need to sock away $500 a month between now and then.

You may have some money in savings, but you may not have an extra $500 sitting around. What changes can you make to fill the gap? Consider the impact some obvious changes can make to your travel savings account.

• Swap your daily Starbucks latte for an at-home cup. Savings: $90 a month.
• Cancel one of your streaming services. Savings: $30 a month.
• Stop eating out once a week. Savings for a family of four: $200 a month.
• Postpone new clothing purchases. Savings: $50 a month.
• Pack your lunch two days a week. Savings: $120 a month.

Total monthly savings: $490.

For this example, you'd save enough to fund your vacation.

If it feels like too much of a stretch to stock your vacation fund, don't force it. The whole point of your vacation is to improve your mental and physical health, and financial strain does just the opposite. A staycation or modest vacation this year can buy you the time to save for your dream vacation next year.

The USAA Advice Center provides general advice, tools and resources to guide your journey. Content may mention products, features or services that USAA Federal Savings Bank does not offer. The information contained is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent any endorsement, expressed or implied, by USAA or any affiliates. All information provided is subject to change without notice.