The brutally hot summer is almost over, well for the students. Our girls will be back in school in less than 2 weeks and we’re hoping to do one final road trip before we’re back to cooler conditions. On my way to my meeting with our real estate agent this morning, I noticed a HUGE line at the gas station. Gas was at an all-time low at 93 cents a liter. We’ve been paying close to or over a buck all summer… actually since Katrina. How many moons ago was that? I shouldn’t get started on my hate for oil companies.

For those of you who commute on a daily basis to and from work, power to you. Having to fill my gas tank more often than I already do, who surely send me into depression.

Maybe these gas saving tips will help make that last road trip a bit more economical.

*  Have your car tuned regularly. An engine tune-up can improve car fuel economy by an average of 1 mile per gallon.

* Keep your tires properly inflated. Underinflated tired can decrease fuel economy by up to 1 mile per gallon.

* Slow down. The faster you drive, the more gasoline your car uses. Driving at 65 miles per hour rather than 55 miles per hour reduces fuel economy by about 2 miles per gallon.

* Avoid jackrabbit starts. Abrupt starts require about twice as much gasoline as gradual starts.

* Pace your driving. Unnecessary speedups, slowdowns and stops can decrease fuel economy by up to 2 miles per gallon. Stay alert and drive steadily, not erratically. Keep a reasonable, safe distance from the car ahead of you and anticipate traffic conditions.

* Use your air conditioner sparingly. The use of air conditioning can reduce fuel economy by as much as 2 miles per gallon under certain speeds and operating conditions.

* Avoid lengthy engine idling. Turn your engine off when you are delayed for more than a couple of minutes.

* Plan your trips in advance. Combine short trips into one to do all your errands. Avoid traveling during rush hours if possible, to reduce fuel-consumption patterns such as starting and stopping and numerous idling periods. Consider joining a car pool.