QuietLion is right. $40 will make you life MUCH easier.

Cost of passport $40 plus sometime $15 fee If you doing in at one of the applications centers like USPS. Total cost $60. If you live in one of the big cities you can go to the Service Center and have it done within couple of days or so for just $40. They are used If you have travel plans within the couple of days or weeks and can't wait the whole month to receive you passport. I don't know if they check for validity of your travel plans, but maybe someone here will know for future reference.

Hope that helps, somehow ..