Today at the local 7-11, I overheard a lady complaining about the rising price of cigarettes. Thirteen dollars and change for a cheap plastic lighter and two packs of the hard stuff. The exorbitant price of slowly killing herself should have been reason enough to kick the habit, but sadly no. This woman would continue to exercise her constitutionally protected freedom to contract cancer no matter what the cost.

That got me thinking about the rising price of gas and what hapless commuters can do to cut down on the cost of making a living. Unlike the lady with the cigarettes, we can't simply quit cold turkey. But we can start instituting some cost saving measures to take the sting out of driving back and forth to work.

Motor less, pedal more. I used to live and work in the city, allowing me to truck back and forth about twenty blocks each day. Sure beat fighting traffic and paying for parking, not to mention kept me in shape without a gym membership. Unless you're terribly out of shape, try walking or biking to work. Many employers will be happy to provide a secure storage area or bike rack for employees who want to give it the old college try.

Fuel when it's cool. You get more bang for your buck if you fill the tank in the early morning or evening hours when temperatures are usually low. Hot air helps gas evaporate, leaving less for the tank. Also, make good use of nozzle covers. They also help stem evaporation when positioned to cover the tank opening.

Carpool. It's not unusual for neighbors to work at the same place of business or nearby. Advertise on company bulletin boards, Craigslist, and neighborhood houses of worship. You'd be surprised how many people

And to those of you who are self-employed, congratulations. The IRS just raised the mileage reimbursement rate a whopping $.08 to a $.58 per mile.