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Gas prices have hit another all time high this week. Is there any relief in sight? Probably not, at least in the short term. As long as crude oil continues its meteoric rise to well over $130/barrel (crude was about $65/barrel one year ago), gas prices will remain in the “ouch” category for a while.

You can’t control the price of gas, but you can control how much of it you use. That doesn’t necessarily mean rushing out and buying an expensive “economy” car, but you can fine tune your driving habits and the vehicle that’s now sitting in your driveway.

1. Don’t drive. Well, duh - it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that one out. But it does require some pretty careful planning when you do drive your car. Can you walk to the post office? Can your kids hoof it home from school? Could your significant other pick up that dozen eggs and gallon of milk on the way home (instead of you making an extra trip)?
2. When you drive, develop some new habits. Another obvious “duh” - don’t rocket away from stoplights. Maybe there is an area in our brains that says “don’t let the guy next to you beat you away from the stoplight,” when, in reality, you’ll most likely meet him at the next light anyway. You could save up to 20% on your gas bill by treading lightly on the gas pedal.
3. Take better care of your car. No matter what you drive, paying attention to the basics will definitely make your vehicle last longer and get better gas mileage. Things like changing the oil, making sure tires are inflated to the maximum psi, getting the engine tuned when needed all contribute to a more efficient transportation experience. And, that means doing it for less money.

Instead of feeling helpless everytime you hear that gas prices are up again, take action! And remember, what goes up, must come down. While gas prices may never be as low as they were even last year, most commodities “experts” are predicting that the “oil bubble” will eventually burst. Just think of the dot.com bubble bursting in 2000 and the housing bubble popping today. Think positive!

For more timely car tips, visit http://www.ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dan_Morton.