Hopefully, for this, you're already ahead of the game and have been saving for a couple of years or so. But if you're like me and just started last month... we've got some work to do!

Saving for a Senior trip is probably the biggest aspect of this whole process, cause what are you going to do without money?? Nothing. If there are freshman or sophomores reading this, let me recommend that you start saving now. Even $20 a month. You may think, "I don't have the money to set aside for something that's so far away." Well, I say yes you do. It's just going to get thrown somewhere else anyway like McDonald's or the Dollar Store. So, instead, put it towards future you who will be very grateful for past you!

Now, if you're like me, we've got to up the ante a little. Instead of $20 a month, let's put $50. This may seem like a lot but it honestly isn't even enough. Maybe you are some rich kid reading this and don't need to worry about this at all. Your parents or grandparents are going to throw a bunch of money at you and say, "Have fun and be careful!" Good for you! I'm glad you don't have any worries and trust me, we all wish we were you!!

How much money you need is all going to depend on where you're going. How much gas money do you need? Or if you can't or aren't going to drive... how much are airline tickets? How are you getting around once you're up or down or wherever you are heading? All of these factors can be decided once you know your destination.

This could also be argued as the most important step and decision in the process. Where you're going will decide how much money you need, if you need an adult for the sign-in/sign -out and many other things.

Choosing a destination is all up to you and everyone who's going. Having to please a large group becomes challenging, which is why a lot of people just go to the beach. A beach is a great option, especially if you've been a thousand times with your family and have your beach memorized down to the seashell. This is also a safe option money-wise. If you're smart you can all split the housing price, groceries and keep the eating-out to a minimum. Unless you're loaded and plan on having every meal you eat at a restaurant.

However, if you're like me and want to use any future travel opportunity you have to see new places... we're headed somewhere new. This can get very tricky and scary just because of that word; new. A new place means less knowledge. Not knowing how the housing works, the transportation, and the city, in general, can be nerve-racking. But if you do some research and save enough money, it could turn into the memories of a lifetime.

All in all, we go right back to the idea of money. Choosing a destination requires money and knowing how much money you need relies on your destination. It's important.

Now, this doesn't mean who your honey is going to be for the week, it's the actual days of the month you're going.

There are lots of dates you have to plan around for this trip. You can't go before graduation(unless...), you can't go during your family's vacation and you can't go too late or you'll run into college move-in days. Picking dates is all up to you, your family, and everyone you're going with.

Housing is expensive and important. If you're going to the beach you have to decide between a condominium or a house. If you're going somewhere different you might have friends or family members you're mooching off of or have to look at AirBNBs. In any case, this will probably require more... money! Yep, you guessed it. Money may be the root of all evil, but it's also the seed to your trip's success.

A big factor here is age. For a lot of housing, you must be 25 to rent, so this is where your parent may have to come along for the first day to get you in. Just make sure you read the requirements for the housing.

Looking at reviews is something you may forget to do, but let this be your reminder. You have to see reviews before you book because it may not be what it was advertised as. No reviews? Don't book it.

You need to find a place with a bathroom that suits your company, enough beds for all the bodies, and decide if you really need that washer/dryer!

Whatever your housing, make sure you do your homework and split the cost evenly with your travel mates.

Once you know where you're going you can finally start planning your fun activities for the trip.

This may require some research of the area if you don't know it super well. See if they have any interesting attractions or fun activities special to the city.

For the itinerary, it's not only what you can find to do but also what you and your group are willing to do. If you have a wide range of personalities and people with less enthusiasm than others it can become difficult to plan to please everyone. Maybe somewhere you're going has hiking trails that a couple of you are interested in doing but the other people would say, "If you think I'm hiking on my senior trip... you're crazy." If this is the case for you then you may have to plan some separate days where half of you go do one thing and everyone else finds another activity to do.

This can sometimes be a blessing and you shouldn't stress about it. Days where the whole group separates can be the reset that you may need or want.

Your itinerary also requires you to set the right amount of time for travel in between activities so make sure you leave wiggle room.

This may be the step that makes every senior trip ever go wrong. Every day expenses include more than you expect and require you to think carefully about everywhere you go and what you actually need.

The first step is food. If you're beaching it up then you should probably set a time on the first day you arrive to go on a quick shopping trip. Or if you want to know a secret; Instacart! It may not be called this at every grocery store, but all the same, it is a great life hack. My family has done this for many years now on our beach vacations. For some places, they will even deliver it to the place you're staying in, which is a double win. This deletes time, stress, and probably more money than you would have spent if you were shopping in-store(see and buy impulses).

Next up we need to discuss restaurants. This is the one I was talking about where you have to decide what you actually need. Restaurants can get very expensive, especially seafood. Going out every night of your trip isn't a very financially conscious decision. Limit it to maybe 2-3 nights of the week maximum and make meals at home with the group, which can turn out to be a fun adventure all on its own.

Let's talk coffee and any and all drinks really. If you're the basic girl who needs her coffee every day(like me) you need to add that expense in. Finding a place with a coffee maker may be the route to go to save money. If you're going out for a coffee run every morning, you better plan for that spending. You need to plan for other drinks as well... like juice, pop, water, and other things. It all adds up.

Next, are you going on a shopping day while you're there? Plan for a lot of spent money on that day. From the food, you'll eat while you're shopping to the actual items you buy.

Getting around is definitely an important step. If you're at the beach; maybe your house has a golf cart that comes with it, maybe you're going to walk everywhere or you might have to uber. Uber is EXPENSIVE and kind of scary. Be cautious and again... add it to the bill.

If you want to rent a car, you need to see what the age requirements are for it. This is another thing where you may have to bring your parent along for the first day to help you purchase it.

Somewhere new and fancy could have bus systems you could buy into, more uber or if it's really cool; subway systems. You'll need passes or more money for your transportation methods.

If reading this article didn't stress enough the fact of how much money you need, let me reiterate. Gas, flights, housing, everyday expenses, transportation, shopping sprees, restaurants, coffee/drinks and I'm probably even forgetting more. Money is the seed for the success of your trip. Start saving now, no matter how old you are and how "too late" it is.

Finally!! The first non-stressful step. Don't let this article scare you off from even trying to do a senior trip because it's going to be worth it. A secluded time with your friends and possibly your last hoorah for high school. Remember all the memories you're going to make and just the fun you're going to have. New experiences in a fun destination. In the end, it's all going to be worth it.

Until it's time to go, for now, you can celebrate your planning abilities and rest knowing you have something epic to look forward to. You are awesome! Great job!