My Toyota Echo is rated at 36mpg for the average driver. I can get 43mpg. Some people get only 25mpg in their Echos.
Techniques for getting better gas mileage are called hypermiling. In this book, I discuss 13 hypermiling techniques. I also discuss how to calculate gas mileage so you can tell how your mileage is improving as you apply some or all of these techniques. Just think, now you'll have a few extra bucks to buy a lottery ticket, a flower for a special friend, a soda, or a stick of gum for yourself, or a bottle of bubbles for your kid. Perhaps you'll save it to tip your favorite waitperson a little extra. You might even stick it in your bank account to help pay bills.