Family

Summertime, and the living is expensive.

Food and energy costs are skyrocketing. Gasoline is blowing budgets everywhere and shows no intention of easing.

Obviously, it's time for drastic action. Luckily, there are a few simple steps that you can take — in the comfort of your air-conditioned car, no less — to combat the costs.

First, re-evaluate your shopping. Pay no mind to coupons and specials; this is all about location. Skip the local grocery store. Don't even pause at the closest farmers' market. Look, instead, for the most distant big-box chain your GPS can find. The more highway miles involved the better. And be certain to circle the lot as frequently as possible for the closest space. No amount of walking should be acceptable.

On your way to the store, be sure to remember that the speed limit is merely a suggestion. A suggestion sometimes reinforced by police cruisers, perhaps, but a suggestion nonetheless. It is well established that fuel economy drops drastically above 60 mph. Aim for 80. Bursts of speed exceeding 90 between clusters of stopped traffic is optimal. It's important to close those gaps quickly.

All errands, shopping or otherwise, must be individual trips. Make no effort to combine or carpool. With more than two cars out there for every American, mass transportation is practically sinful.

Speed should be a virtue in every situation — especially at stoplights. Leave intersections and red lights as quickly as your accelerator will allow. Few minivan manufacturers tout their 0-60 times, but you will be surprised at how quickly the needle can jump before screaming to a stop at the next light.

Auto maintenance is also key. Many shops will encourage oil changes every 3,000 miles. This figure is long outdated and meant more for motors of another generation. Today's cars will go for thousands more before requiring a change, if noise, heat and a burning smell are not an issue. Tune-ups, too, are a thing of the past. If utter disrepair leaves your car undrivable, it can always be traded in for a newer model.

And so far as gasoline itself, always keep an eye out for a sale. Watch your local news stations — in the summer, it's likely they'll advertise the lowest prices in the area. If you can save 1 cent per gallon, make the extra effort to drive 20 minutes out of your way. Once you arrive at the advertised station, be sure to idle in line as long as possible.

By taking such simple measures, you too can be a part of the solution. In fact, you may be a part already.

Millions of drivers are making these efforts every day to consume as much gas as quickly and irresponsibly as possible. By helping them speed the process along, red light to red light, you too can drive the supply of gasoline lower and the cost higher. Year after year, we can all work together until that golden summer when automobiles are simply too expensive to drive.

It may not be the most obvious solution. But it certainly is the most likely.