With gas prices going up and down around the $4 mark this summer, everyone is talking about fuel economy. Some people who would never otherwise consider buying an economy car like the 2008 Ford Focus are suddenly looking into vehicles along those lines.

In addition to choosing a car that’s good on gas mileage like the 2008 Ford Focus, there are some other things that you can do to save gas. Here are a few tips to make things easier on your wallet when you’re at the gas station:

Drive defensively. If you drive aggressively by speeding, frequently accelerating, and frequently braking, you can lose as much as a full third of your gas mileage when you’re on the highway. While the percentage is smaller when you’re driving through town, you still burn more gas when you’re driving in an aggressive way.

Follow the speed limit. Generally speaking, your fuel economy is optimal at right around 60 miles per hour. While this can vary from one vehicle to another, 60 is usually the point at which fuel economy starts to worsen. For every 5 miles per hour over 60 you drive, you’re going to lose anywhere from 7 to 23 percent on your fuel economy.

Get rid of excess weight. It might be that you’ve got some equipment in your trunk that you’re not using. You should be able to save as much as 2% on your gas mileage by removing 100 pounds from the weight of what your Ford Focus is carrying.

Avoid idling. Idling, of course, gets you zero miles per gallon. While a smaller car like the 2008 Focus is going to waste less gas than a truck with a V-8 engine, idling still wastes gas.

Use cruise control. If your vehicle has cruise control, use it. It avoids all sorts of unintentional speeding up and slowing down, which waste gas in the long run. By using the cruise, you help the engine stay at a constant rate.