Living with today’s economy can be a challenge. Prices go up but paychecks often stay the same; making ends meet can be tough. One way to confront this problem is with math. You may consider math another four-letter word. However, better understanding where your hard-earned money is going can help you keep your finances in line… and that takes simple math.

One cost that fluctuates a great deal is the cost of gasoline. One week it’s high and the next week it’s probably higher. If you know the mileage your vehicle is getting, however, you might be able to make adjustments and save a few bucks.

Like keeping your home clean, vigilance is the key. Clean out your car once a week. If you spend any time in your car you are going to accumulate “stuff” during the course of a week. To keep these items from taking over the interior, you can throw them away, organize them in the car or move them out of the car.

Although manufacturers indicate a vehicle’s city/highway MPG (miles per gallon), those numbers will fluctuate based on the driver and driving conditions. So how do you accurately figure the mileage you are getting with your vehicle? First, prepare a worksheet to record data; you can use a notebook or a computer-generated spreadsheet. Whichever you choose, make sure you have a column for each of the following: Date (on which you purchase gas), Odometer Reading, Miles Traveled, Gallons and MPG (Miles Per Gallon). For budgeting purposes, you may want to keep a record of Amount you spent for gas also.

Now head to the gas station and fill up your tank. Be sure to use the lock on the nozzle handle so that the pump shuts off automatically when the tank is full. Do not top off the tank. Before you leave the gas station, record the date and the odometer reading and set your trip meter.

The next step is easy… just drive. When your fuel gauge registers about a quarter of a tank, head back to the gas station and fill up again. This time, record both your Odometer Reading and the number of Gallons (found on the pump) used to fill up your vehicle.

You can find Miles Traveled in two ways. You can look at your trip meter (if it hasn’t been accidentally reset) or you can subtract your current odometer reading from the original reading you logged on your worksheet. For example, if your first odometer reading was 46,526 and your current reading is 46,852, you have traveled (46,852 minus 46,526) 326 miles.

Next divide the miles you have traveled by the number of gallons of gas you just used-let’s say 15.2, 326 divided by 15.2-and you’ll have your miles per gallon. In this case, your MPG is 21.4. However, this reading is accurate for only this tank of gas. You will want to average several fill-ups to get an accurate idea of your vehicle’s MPG. Averaging is easy; just add your miles per gallon notations and divide by the number of notations listed. For example, if you have recorded four MPG figures on your sheet, 21.4, 20.8, 22.7, 19.7, add them all together for 84.6. Now divide that number by four and you have your average, 21.2 miles per gallon.

So, what do you do with those numbers? See if you can improve your gas mileage. How? The first thing is by performing simple maintenance. Are the tires properly inflated? Do you have the oil changed regularly? Is the air filter clean? Next consider your driving habits. Do you let your vehicle idle for long periods of time? Do you often drive in stop-and-go traffic? Are you a speed demon? Do you start quickly and stop suddenly?

Making adjustments and then checking your MPG will let you know how much you are saving at the pump. The process will take minimal time, but once you get the hang of it, you might find it fun — imagine that, saving money while having fun with math.