• Make sure your tires are properly inflated for starters. Besides posing a safety hazard, under inflated tires can reduce your fuel economy slightly

• Removing excess weight from your car can also help save you gas. The Department of Energy estimates that drivers can save anywhere between 6 and 9 cents a gallon (assuming gas prices of $4.00 a gallon) just by removing those golf clubs and other unnecessary weight from your trunk.

• If your car comes equipped with cruise control, make sure you use it, especially on long trips. A national study revealed that using cruise control at highway speeds offered an average fuel economy savings of 7 percent.

• But the biggest fuel saver is driving the speed limit and driving sensibly. Rapid starts and stops and exceeding the speed limit will dent your pocketbook. Just by adhering to one of those, the Department of Energy estimates that drivers can save anywhere between $.25 and $1.15 a gallon, again assuming pump prices are at $4.00 a gallon.