The price of gas has risen to phenomenal highs and there's no end in site. This can put a serious crimp in your wallet, whether you're traveling across the country or across town. Now more than ever, it makes sense to get the most miles out of your fuel purchases that you possibly can. Not only will you save money, you'll also help clean the environment. So next time you turn on the ignition, keep these valuable tips in mind:

• Don't top off your tank. - Gas that drips onto the ground or evaporates into the air as fumes can't help get you down the road. Don't pay for fuel that will only be wasted, stop filling your tank before it overflows.
  
  
• Turn off the air conditioner. - Air conditioners burn through significant amounts of fuel. Open the windows instead and you'll save money.
  
  
• Slow Down. -- The faster you drive, the more fuel you'll use, stick to the speed limit and you'll not only save on fuel, you'll save on tickets too. If you have cruise control, use it!
  
  
• Stay off the breaks. - You'll use more fuel in stop and go traffic. Try to plan trips when you're not likely to hit rush hour traffic and you'll save time as well as money.
  
  
• Lighten your load. - Don't carry unnecessary weight in your vehicle (or in any trailers you may be towing). The heavier the load, the more fuel consumed.
  
  
• Tune it up. - To keep your vehicle running at maximum efficiency, always get regular tune-ups and change dirty filters regularly. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
  
  
• Check the tires. - Check that your tires are properly inflated and rotate them on a regular basis, not only to extend the life of your tires, but to help achieve maximum fuel efficiency.
  
  
• Multi-task. - It takes more gas to start up a cold car as opposed to a warm one, plan all your small trips and errands together to get the most out of your gas tank.