As gas prices slowly approach and surpass $4.00 per gallon, we need to start doing everything we can to improve our gas mileage. This will in turn put more money in our pockets. Below you will find some of the top ways to make sure you are filling up a little less often this summer.

1.  Follow the speed limits.  Speed limits have not only been put in place to help make the roads safer, but following them can also help save $0.10 or more per gallon of gas.

2.  Watch how quickly you use your brake and gas pedal.  One of my biggest pet peeves is when I am at a stoplight and a car decides to speed off next to me only to get stopped at the next stoplight. By applying normal pressure on the accelerator and brakes you can save yourself nearly $0.50 per gallon of wasted fuel.

3.  Use the correct octane of gas recommended by the manufacturer.  A lot of luxury cars require the use of premium gasoline. If your car calls for premium make sure you use it. The added cost will heavily overweigh the decrease in MPG from using regular gasoline. On the other hand, if your car calls for regular gasoline you will see no added benefit if you change to premium.

4.  Remove excess weight and car racks when not in use. Extra weight in your car, whether it is your golf clubs or your camping gear, can add extra drag on your car and bring down your gas mileage. If you use a ski or bike rack on your car make sure you take it off when you are not using it.

5.  Replace your auto filters frequently. Air filters are designed to keep unwanted particles out of the air you breath, but they also keep those same unwanted particles out of your engine. This can help increase your gas mileage by nearly 10%.

6.  Make sure your tires are fully inflated. When you are at the gas station filling up make sure you stop by the tire pump. If your tire is inflated to the recommended pressure, this will increase your gas mileage by over 3%.

If you follow these simple steps you will find yourself at the gas station much less frequently this summer and in turn you will have more money to spend on other areas of your life.

This is a guest post by Sean Bryant, founder of OneSmartDollar.com and FreeSnatcher.com, who tries to help consumers save money on groceries and retail purchases.  He also teaches on the basic principals of personal finance.

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Image thanks to OgilvyPRWorldwide on Flickr