Will gas prices ever go down again? I wish I could say yes; however, there is no sign of a change in the near future. That is why we, the consumer, have to learn how to be frugal at the pump. I have arrived at 10 tips on how we can save money at the pump an also help preserve the environment.

Tip #1 Make sure your car is serviced, regularly. Cars that do not run properly use more gas.

Tip #2 Check your tire pressure, consistently. Over-inflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency just as much as under-inflated tires.

Tip#3 Try to avoid running your vehicle’s air conditioner. Running the air conditioner causes lower gas mileage. If you have to have the air conditioner on, then keep it at a low setting. Another alternative is to turn the air conditioner on until the car gets cool and then turn it off and let the fan circulate the cool air.

Tip #4 Likewise, when traveling at high speeds, keep your windows closed. If you have your windows open when you are traveling at high speed, then the open window will cause a drag. The drag will lower your gas mileage.

Tip #5 If you are traveling at fast speeds, then make sure your gears are not in low.

Tip #6 If you are stuck in traffic and will not be moving anytime soon, then it is a good idea to turn your engine off, instead of letting it idle for a period of time.

Tip #7 Stop and go traffic hurts your gas mileage. So, if at all possible, change your work time to avoid the morning and evening rush hours. This may mean leaving earlier or later.

Tip #8 Do not let your car “warm up” on colder days. Again, you will lose gas mileage, if you let your vehicle idle for periods of time.

Tip #9 Take unneeded items out of your car. Excessive weight just bogs down your car and gas mileage.

Tip #10 Plan your trips well to avoid unnecessary driving.