Tired of high gas prices? Ten ways to save.

As the nation's economic woes mount, many Americans plan to stay close to home this summer. Six in 10 Americans say they will spend less on vacations this summer or not take one at all, according to a new report by TrueCredit.com.

Among those rethinking travel plans, 72 percent cited fuel costs as their primary concern. Indeed, a family planning a 1,000-mile road trip, for example, can expect to pay at least $600 more than they did last year.

But paying more than $4 a gallon at the pump shouldn't be an excuse to nix the family vacation. With just a few minor changes, motorists don't have to buy a hybrid to increase fuel economy by up to 50 percent. So before hitting the road, check out these 10 tips to lower your gasoline bill:

1. Feed the Michelin Man!

One out of every 3 cars on the road in the United States has at least one underinflated tire. Pumping up your tires properly could save up to $2 every time you fill the gas tank. The US Department of Energy estimates that Americans will waste more than $1.5 billion of gasoline this summer because of low tire pressure. For best results, use the recommended p.s.i. printed on the side of the tire, not the one in the automobile's owner's manual.

2. Your car is not a moving closet.

If you like to keep golf clubs in the trunk just in case you get the urge to play 18 holes, consider that every 100 pounds you add to the trunk reduces fuel efficiency by 1 to 2 percent. That's 4 to 7 cents a gallon, or up to a $1.05 every time you fill up a 15-gallon tank. "Stop using the car as a spare bedroom. Call Goodwill, have [them] take all the stuff out of the car, and then enjoy the lighter load," says Diane MacEachern, author of "Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World."

3. Don't move the junk in your trunk to the roof.

A roof-mounted luggage carrier, roof racks, or anything else on top of your car creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by up to 5 percent. Pickup truck owners, however, can make their vehicles more aerodynamic and improve fuel economy by adding a shell the same height as the cab over the truck bed. If you don't want to buy a shell, keep the tailgate closed. Leaving it open or taking it off completely creates extra drag that will cost you. And from the school of differences too small to notice, a freshly waxed car is more aerodynamic than a dirty one. You'll get better mileage, but need scientific instruments to see the difference.

4. You're not a race-car driver.

You've heard it before, but hear it again: Don't go over 60 miles per hour, and avoid quick starts and stops. Doing so can reduce your outlay for gasoline by as much as 33 percent. Remember this simple equation: For every 5 m.p.h. you drive over 60, you'll be paying the equivalent of an extra $0.20 per gallon at the pump. Whether cruising the highway or starting up at a traffic light, imagine an egg between your foot and the pedal as you push the accelerator. Conversely, unless faced with an emergency, coast before you stop, allowing your engine to idle for a few hundred yards.

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