10 Tips on How to Save Gas

High gas prices are a reality, but there's no reason to pay more than you have to. Keep more money in your wallet and less money in the hands of the gas companies by implementing some (or all) of these gas-saving tips:

1. Unload your car.
Every 100 pounds of unnecessary weight decreases your car's gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Unload your car of all the extras you don't use on the regular basis - this may include removing the roof rack, the hitch, and even dropping a few pounds yourself. Dirt and grime count too, so keep your vehicle clean inside and out.

2. Change your driving habits.
Are you a stop-and-go driver? Are you a speeder? Do you break at the last minute? This behavior is rough on your car and rough on your gas mileage. Keep a steady speed and ease into stops. Experts also suggest to stay at or below 55 mph on the highways, saying higher speeds consume gas at a higher rate. At high speeds, though, without stop-and-go traffic use cruise control. A steady pace uses fuel more efficiently.

3. Use your air conditioner.
You read that right. At high speeds, your car will actually use less gas if you have the air conditioner on rather than the windows down. Most experts estimate that the change occurs at speeds of 35 and over. Also, use the max setting on the air conditioner. It may sound like it'll use more gas, but it actually runs more efficiently, recycling the cool air instead of making new cool air.

4. Avoid idling.

One minute of idling equals using the same amount of gas as one start-up. Skip the drive-thru and park.

5. Plan trips.

This seems obvious, but planning your car trips can save you loads on gas. What I like to do is make a list of all the errands I need to run in a day, I group the ones in the same area and decide which ones I can put off for another day or two (till I have more in that area to do). The benefits on planning your errands are more than just saving gas: It saves me time, saves my car some wear and tear, and shaves money off my gas bill.

6. Use credit cards or gift cards.

Some gas stations offer incentives for using their credit card or gift cards at their pump - you usually save 2 to 5 cents per a gallon. Check your local stations and see which ones offer the most competitive plans. Be sure to consider their "before discount" price as well, if they're usually higher and take off 5 cents, then you won't save any money on gas.

7. Maintain your vehicle - and particularly the tires.

Check your owner's manual and follow its guidelines. Get your oil and filters changed routinely. Another huge maintenance item: Tires. From my own experience, my 2005 Hyundai Elantra went from 30 miles per a gallon to about 20 thanks to deflated tires. Don't trust your husband is checking them for you! Properly inflated tires also wear better and be sure to have them rotated at least every other oil change. Maintaining your tires pays for itself and then some.

8. Avoid prolong warm-ups.

About 45 to 60 seconds is all your engine really needs to warm up. The point of warming up a vehicle is to make sure all the fluids in the engine are operating, not to produce heat. Vehicles must work harder to produce heat while idling, so you best bet is just to be on your way - with the engine working to drive, the heat will follow more quickly.

9. Invest in a block heater.
For those in cooler climates, a block heater is an excellent investment. It helps warm the car without using gas and also reduces pollution and increases fuel efficiency through some fancy process called fuel vaporization. Block heaters are very popular in far-north countries (think Norway, Greenland, etc.) and are catching on in the United States. Block heaters start at around $30 with installation extra.

10. Reconsider public transportation or bikes.

Check out your community's public transportation system. You may be surprised to see that lines run close to your home and work ... or you may be outraged to see the opposite (in which case, contact city leaders - make points that a more efficient system would draw new customers and reduce oil dependency and pollution). A bike, on the other hand, will take you where you want to go and assist in that weight loss that I discussed in No. 1.