Mike Nugent has become more diligent about maintaining proper tire pressure. And Cathy Wong tries to use her gasoline-stingy Toyota Camry whenever she can, instead of her V-8, 2001 Jaguar Vanden Plas.

They're little things, certainly. But with average gas prices inching above $2 for a gallon of regular on O'ahu, some drivers have found that a little thinking translates into less money spent on fuel.

Mary Fernandez makes her living pumping gas at the Lex Brodie's on Queen Street and lately she hears a lot more former $2.17-per-gallon, 92 octane, "premium" customers asking for the $2.08-per-gallon, 89 octane "power plus."

"They're going for the plus now," she said. "Definitely the plus."

CHOONZ LEE

AMBER GOMES

CATHY WONG

"It costs a lot of money to drive," Lee said. "Unless I really need to go, I don't go anymore. Now I call them up at the job (sites) and say, 'You OK?' "

Amber Gomes has to log plenty of miles every day as an adult mental health service case manager who visits clients islandwide.

"I live in 'Ewa Beach and my (two) children go to school in Kaimuki," Gomes said. "I have to drive."

Gomes drives so much that she has to fill the tank on her 2000 Honda CRV every third day.

But she figured out a trick.

Gomes keeps her gas purchases to just half a tank in town and buys the rest in Wahiawa or at the Mililani Costco, where prices are lower.

Nugent also likes to buy his gas in Wahiawa or Wai'anae. Because as a real-estate appraiser from Pauoa, Nugent also has to get to jobs all over the island.

Nugent sat with a $100 bill in his hand waiting to fill up and said he averages at least 400 miles per week.

But he has found that properly inflated tires can help squeeze a few more miles from each tank of gas.

"It's almost impossible to save on gas," he said, "but I try."