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Tips to ease the pain at the pump

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ATLANTA -

With gas prices going up, it seems all we can do is stand by and helplessly watch. But, there are some things you can do to stretch your gas dollars.

Garrett Townsend of the AAA Auto Club Group says there are some practical things you can do to at least increase your mileage, thus saving you money at the pump.

First, Townsend suggests that you check your tire pressure monthly.

"That's one of those things that people sort of roll the luck. Making sure that you have the proper tire inflation can help in increased miles per gallon as well.

Next, he suggests getting the junk out of your trunk.

"Sometimes you look in the trunk of your vehicle and you've got all this excess stuff, well of course that's extra weight on your vehicle. That's going to decrease the miles you get per gallon. Take all the excess stuff out. Travel as light as possible," said Townsend.

Next, he says to drive smart.

"The hard braking, the jack rabbit starts, all of those things can really decrease your miles per gallon," Townsend said.

Townsend says it's important to maintain your vehicle. He suggests making sure fluids are topped off, and replace your air filter if necessary. A new set of spark plugs can also go a long way to increase your gas mileage.
 
"All of these little things can really increase your miles per gallon by 2 percent here, 3 percent there, so maybe if you're only getting 18 miles per gallon, maybe you can get 19, 20 miles per gallon. It may not seem like a bunch but if you do a lot of driving, it certainly adds up," explained Townsend.

If you're looking for other ways to save pennies at the pump, click here!

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