Gas prices got you down? You're not alone. Thousands of Americans are being pushed closer toward debt, thanks to the ever-rising prices for fuel, dairy and other necessities. The US national gas average is currently $3.97, an increase of $0.81 since 2007. Hang onto a few extra pennies by following these thrifty tips to avoid guzzling gas this summer, your wallet will thank you.

Combine & Conquer

With rising prices, making trips to the grocery store or the dry cleaners burns small increments of gas quickly. Combine all your errands and plan out a comprehensive route to accomplish all your needs. If a location is less than one mile away from your starting point, save fuel and get fit by walking, running or biking to the destination.

Travel Smarter

Every household should designate the car with the best gas mileage for commuting to work as well as traveling for vacations. If the thought of spending more time with your coworkers seems more painful than torture, network and find other commuters in your area interested in carpooling. Whether you have a car or not, carpooling not only cuts costs, but also may make commuting less of a headache. When you are stuck in traffic jams, turn off the engine instead of idling and wasting more gas. Avoid unnecessarily slowing your car down by removing extra items from your car trunk or storage area.

Tune It Up

Be sure to properly inflate tires routinely; under-inflated tires equate to another $300 to $500 extra dollars a year on gas alone. Replacing old and dirty air filters can increase gas mileage by 10%, which saves $0.35 a gallon. Fixing serious maintenance problems, though sometimes costly, can increase car mileage an additional 40%.

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