Fortunately, saving gas is easy to do. Making a series of small improvements will result in better fuel economy than making one or two large improvements. When it comes to saving gas, every little bit helps.

Saving gas means reducing the amount of gas required to operate your vehicle. When you take steps to improve the mileage of your automobile, you are saving gas. While gas prices do tend to rise and fall, the trend over the long run is an increase in gas prices. Thus, saving gas by making your vehicle and your lifestyle more efficient means more money in your pocket. Saving gas is also good for the environment.

Driving Habits

Your driving habits can make a big difference in whether you are saving gas or not. Constant acceleration and braking or stop-and-start driving, as well as driving more than 60 mph, significantly decreases fuel economy. Using the cruise control feature on your car also helps in saving gas on long trips or for highway driving.

Combining Trips

Save gas by planning ahead and combining errands in one trip rather than several separate ones throughout the day.

Buy an Efficient Vehicle

Before you buy your next vehicle, check the gas mileage estimates for the various models in which you are interested and compare them with similar vehicles. Choosing a car that gets 40 miles to the gallon over a car that gets 20 miles to the gallon can make a huge difference in whether you are saving gas or not.

Engine Tune-Ups

Regular tune-ups, engine maintenance, and properly functioning emission systems are an important part of owning a car--not to mention essential in saving gas.

Properly Inflated Tires

Keeping your tires properly inflated is one of the easiest ways to save gas. Keep a tire gauge in the glove compartment and check your tires frequently to make sure they are not over or under-inflated. Consult the owner's manual for the proper tire inflation for your particular car.

Clean Air Filters

Replacing clogged air filters is another method that ensure you are saving gas. Your engine will not run as well and could become damaged by using an inefficient air filter.

Brakes

Take your car to the brake or tire shop, and have the brakes inspected to be sure there is not too much drag on your brake system. Also, make sure your drum brakes are adjusted properly.

Hybrids

Hybrids will obviously save you money at the pump, but will they save you money in the long run? Not likely. Most hybrids run about $5,000 to $10,000 more than their traditional gasoline counterparts. While you can use about a third less gasoline per tank, it takes a great deal of driving to make up the difference. Also, while in a few years this may be moot, maintenance will cost you considerably more. However, the government wants to give you some hope: by offering a one-time tax deduction on your purchase, you can walk away from that first year of ownership with a little feel-good money in your pocket.

And the earth will thank you, too.