Have you heard of ‘peak oil’ – the scenario in which there is less and less crude oil available for more and more money over time? It emerged a few years ago as a theory and has since become a reality at the gas station as we all watch prices soar. If you’re tired of having your pocketbook beaten up at the pumps, check out the following tips on how to get the most value out of your tank.

Drive Less

Simple, right? Maybe, but we could all use a little prodding to get out there on a bicycle, jump on a bus, or just walk on some of those shorter trips to the store or supermarket. But don’t just think about your wallet – leaving the car in the driveway can have some major benefits for your health as well, including a reduced risk of heart disease and obesity.

Also, consider combining your trips better – if you need to drop the kids somewhere, time it with another errand that’s waiting to be done. Think about the location of your home and your work – are they just too far apart? Are you able to move or change jobs in the near future to cut down on your travel times and gas costs? Can you access an office carpool system or begin one if it doesn’t yet exist?

Buy Wisely

The first thing you can do is to forget about loyalty to a particular gas station or brand. Pretty much all regular gas is created equally, so there’s no real quality advantage to chase. And although you might find the service at one station superior to others, is that really what you want to be spending your money on?

Next, figure out if you’re using the cheapest possible fuel type. Unless you have a high-performance engine in your car – if you don’t what that is, chances are you don’t have one – the extra few cents a gallon you may be paying for high-octane fuel is only leaving more carbon in your fuel system and driving up your maintenance costs.

In addition, consider applying for a credit card that has bonus points or discounts for fuel. If you do get one, set it apart mentally from your other credit cards and use it only for gas – and keep it paid up on time, every time, to avoid paying interest on your savings. You should also check for discount membership programs at certain gas stations. Just beware the trap of driving an extra five miles just to save $.20 a tank!

Maintain Your Car

There’s plenty to be saved with some simple car maintenance, such as keeping your engine tuned, changing the oil regularly, keeping tires at the maximum pressure listed on the tire skins, and using a fuel injector cleaner to maintain top fuel performance. These may cost you a little in the short term, but in the long term, they’ll pay for themselves many times over.

Drive Smarter

Surprisingly, how well you drive your car can impact your fuel consumption and spending almost as much as how much you drive it! The golden rule is to avoid idling, since any time you’re stationary, you’re burning fuel to absolutely no benefit. Remember that starting your car uses the equivalent of just 6 seconds idling, so in traffic jams, at the drive-through or while waiting for a parking space, it can be a lot smarter to switch the engine off for a second than to idle away the gallons and dollars!

Best of all, it’s easy to incorporate these habits into your daily routine. You’ll hardly notice them – but you’ll definitely notice the difference in your fuel costs each year.