With the price of gasoline constantly changing, how do we keep our family fuel budget in check? Though we can't control the price of gas, there are several ways to save money on fuel. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), what vehicle you drive, how it's maintained, where you drive and how you drive are the most important factors in conserving fuel, not to mention keeping your family safe behind the wheel.

Car Shopping
If you're shopping for a new car, now is the time to think about fuel costs. Picking a fuel-efficient vehicle can add up to big savings over the life of the car. To help you choose a vehicle, log on to www.fueleconomy.gov and compare estimated annual fuel costs on various models of cars and trucks. Fuel-efficient vehicles can be found in every class of car, so there should be a vehicle to meet both your lifestyle and budget needs.

AAA lists some options that may impact fuel consumption and should be considered when shopping for a new vehicle:

• Four-wheel drive vehicles may use more gasoline than others.
• Smaller engines usually provide better gas mileage.
• Cruise control may impact fuel efficiency if you do most of your driving on the highway.
• Light colors on the exterior and interior, as well as tinted windows, can lower heat levels inside the car and reduce the need for air conditioning.
• When buying trucks, vans or SUVs, look for models with shorter beds, smaller cargo areas or abbreviated cab space. They are generally lighter and consume less fuel.

Maintenance Matters
If you already own the car of your dreams (or at least the car you're planning to drive for the next few years), then there are steps you can take to make it as fuel efficient as possible. A good starting place is reviewing your owner's manual for tips, such as when to schedule maintenance and what grade of motor oil to use.

Other ways to keep your car in shape include the following:

• Routine maintenance – Regular tune-ups keep your car running more efficiently. For example, Cathy Milbourn, a spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), says that repairing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve fuel economy by as much as 40 percent.
• Air filters – Twice a year, check to see if your air filters need changing. According to Milbourn, replacing a clogged air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and keeps impurities from damaging your engine.
• Tires – "Under-inflated tires are the biggest cause of losing fuel efficiency," says Marie Montgomery, a spokesperson for AAA. The recommended tire pressure is posted on a sticker located on the door pillar, in the glovebox or on the trunk lid.
• Spark plugs – AAA says that some spark plugs will last 100,000 miles, but many need to be replaced more often.

Picking the Right Pump
"Price-conscience consumers know if the least expensive gasoline is near their work or close to home," says Montgomery. "It's good to shop around and frequent the stations with the cheaper gas. This encourages store owners to keep their prices low." To help you find the lowest gas prices in town, visit www.GasPriceWatch.com.

Another way to save money at the pump is by choosing the correct level of octane for your vehicle. "There is no need to purchase a higher octane fuel unless your owner's manual specifically recommends one," says Montgomery. She suggests using the lowest octane and not switching between the different octane levels.

Commuting With Care
Commuting to and from work five days a week can take a toll on both gasoline budgets and air pollution. "Tailpipe emissions account for almost half of the air pollution in the United States," says Milbourn.

Public transportation, carpools and vanpools are great ways to cut down our fuel consumption. "At first, I was skeptical about riding the bus to work," says Marcus Malonson, from Cypress, Texas, and father of Morgan, 17 months. "But now I love taking the bus. It allows me to read or catch up on work during the commute." Malonson says it is also a convenient option with a bus terminal five minutes from his house and buses running every five to 10 minutes in the morning.

His employer makes it even easier by providing a designated area for employees to purchase bus passes and a transportation spending account allowing employees to pay for transportation with pretax dollars. To learn more about how employers can help lower fuel consumption and cut transportation costs, visit www.commuterchoice.gov, a Web site created by the EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

If riding the bus is not a solution for you, carpooling may be the answer. Belinda Crow, from Ennis, Texas, and mother of two, has been carpooling to work for 24 years. "On occasion, there are days when I know I need to get home early for an event with my children, so I drive my own car or work from home," says Crow, whose round-trip commute is 80 miles a day. "But overall, carpooling has been a good experience. It has made me consistent in getting to work on time, as well as leaving on time to get home to my family."

In addition to saving money on gas and parking, Crow mentions an added financial benefit. "Carpooling keeps the mileage down on my car, which enables me to lease vehicles and lower my monthly car payments," she says.

Errands and Road Trips
When planning your everyday errands or long road trips, try the following to help save gasoline and money:

• Drive wisely – "Driving sensibly and avoiding rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town," says Milbourn.
• Lighten up – A heavier vehicle uses more gasoline, so move out those strollers and golf clubs until needed.
• Slow down – Watch the speed limit! "Each 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like paying an additional 10 cents per gallon," says Milbourn.
• Cruise control – If you are on the highway, maintaining a steady speed conserves fuel.
• One-stop shopping – Plan your outings ahead of time to cut down on driving. Find a shopping area where you can get most of your errands done in one trip.
• Drive the right car – "For two-vehicle families, use the energy-conserving vehicle as much as possible," says Montgomery.
• Overdrive – "When operating in overdrive, the car's engine speed goes down, which saves gas and reduces wear on the engine," says Milbourn.

When you think of the benefits fuel conservation has to offer – financially and environmentally – it makes sense to take a few minutes to plan your driving or reevaluate your commute. The effort can add up to money in your wallet and cleaner air for us all.

Want to see more?

• Trends in Transportation: What Will Meet Your Family's Needs?
• Tips to Make Your Vehicle Go the Distance
• Buying Your Automobile, SUV or Minivan – and Saving Money
• Talk about it!