How to save $1,000 in six months

$1,000. A grand. One large.

No matter how you say it, it sounds good. Think about the sense of financial security that would come from knowing you had $1,000 tucked away. Everyone should have that feeling.

How much do you need to save each week to reach $1,000 in six months? About $42 per week or $84 per paycheck if you get paid twice a month. Consider these six steps to help you get started and reach your $1,000 goal.

1. Open a savings account.

What's the value in putting your emergency fund in a savings account? Safety. A friend told me a story of one time when his daughter saved $800. On her way to deposit it in the bank, she took a detour by the mall and left her purse sitting on a clothes rack. That envelope with her $800? Gone in a flash. The lesson? Your hard-earned money is often safer in a bank account than in your hands.

Plus, some people find it easier to spend cash than money sitting in their savings account. This might help you keep these funds set aside for their intended purpose.

2. Automate.

Nearly all banks offer automatic transfers that can shift some of each paycheck deposit from your checking to your savings account. USAA Federal Savings Bank has 3 automatic savings tools that can help you achieve your goal.

3. Cut back.

You should be able to find areas where you can reduce spending. It may be on restaurants, coffee, sporting events or gaming. There's no need to go cold turkey — a few small changes can add up quickly.

Here's my personal example. With the increase in cost of goods lately, I can't remember the last time my family of four went out to eat and we spent less than $30. It's normally between $30 and $40. If we cut back on eating out by just one time per week and saved that money towards our emergency fund, we could save about $70 each paycheck. That gets us closer to our $84 per paycheck goal simply by cutting one eating out per week.

4. Cut out.

On the other hand, some spending needs to go. Eliminate casino trips, a tobacco habit or other types of spending so you save toward your goal. What can you think of that would save you money while improving your overall health? Use this goal as motivation to do just that.

5. Don't give up.

If saving for your $1,000 goal is taking longer than 6 months, don't give up. Even stashing money in a jar, while not most ideal way of saving $1,000 is better than not saving at all and will get you there over time. The key is to stay on track and avoid spending what you've worked hard to save.

6. Work both ends of your budget.

You can manage both expenses and income through budgeting. Cutting back or cutting out may get you to your goal, but increasing income through a part-time job or home-based business could do wonders in your quest to reach your emergency fund goal.

Once you reach your goal, celebrate in a responsible way. But don't stop with $1,000. Setting aside a grand is just a small step on the road to financial security. For more information on how to save, check out USAA's How to save page.