These days many people automatically grab their car-keys when they leave the house, no matter whether it is a gallon of milk they're getting or going to the playground with their little ones. With the growing rate of obesity and rising gas-prices, it is worth stopping and thinking if walking to your destination would work just as well, hence saving you money and offering a free workout.

Walking or riding a bike to close-by places instead of driving is a good way to save gasoline and is also good for your health – walking is a good low-impact exercise that has many benefits, while cycling boosts your metabolism. Both of these can help improve your mood, manage weight, make you stronger and fit, help lower your blood-pressure.

During rush-hour you can also save time by running your nearby errands on foot or bike. Plus, you save even more gas during those times as idling in traffic wastes a lot of gasoline.

If you have children, take them along when going to a neighborhood shop to get an orange juice or going to the post office. It's fun for all as you get to talk about the things you see around. When biking, make sure everybody's wearing helmets.

Besides saving money and making you stronger, leaving the car home is also beneficial to the planet - the less you drive, the less carbon dioxide you create and that is equally good for your lungs and your environment.