As the price of gasoline continues to climb, local residents are feeling the pinch at the pumps as industry experts offer tips to help ease the pain.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.83 in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral metro area on Friday – about 20 cents more than one month ago when it cost $3.64, and still higher than $3.60 one year ago.

In Florida, the average price of a gallon of regular gas was $3.79 on Friday, higher than the $3.60 from a month ago and the $3.57 from last year.

The national average was $3.76 – 23 cents more than a year ago.

“Prices are quite a bit higher than we were last year,” Jessica Brady, the spokeswoman for AAA’s The Auto Club Group, said Friday. “At this point, it does look like we could surpass that all-time high sometime this summer.”

Nationally, the highest recorded average for a gallon of regular gas was $4.11 in July 2008. During that same month, Florida reached its highest – $4.08 a gallon – as did the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area at $4.06.

Brady noted that the January and February averages broke records.

“Gas prices are expected to increase well into the summertime,” she said. “We could see prices at $4.25 and $4.50 in some areas of the country.”

For Cape resident Margaret Money, the current prices are already too much.

“They’re outrageous,” she said Friday while filling up her gas tank.

“Families can’t afford to do anything,” Money added.

Her family has cut down on eating out, going on vacations and taking their Sunday afternoon drives to the river or beach because of the rising prices.

To save money at the pump, Monday focuses on consolidating errands.

“I try and hit everything at the same time when we’re out,” she said. “And I try to keep our commutes down to a minimum.”

Brady also suggested planning ahead – be aware of the increasing cost of gasoline and budget accordingly by saving a few dollars for that expense.

“If you can put aside a couple bucks each week, kind of as your gas buffer, that tends to help,” she said.

Another way to save money at the pump is by increasing a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Brady offered the following tips for motorists:

n Drive sensibly: Do not drive aggressively or rapidly brake or accelerate.

n Basic maintenance: Get regular oil and filter changes. Change tires.

n Properly inflate tires: Increases vehicle’s traction and maneuverability.

Driving sensibly alone can increase fuel efficiency by up to 33 percent.

Brady also suggested cutting excess weight from the vehicle by removing items that are left in it but are unneeded or unnecessary, like golf clubs.

“Removing those can increase fuel efficiency, as well,” she said.

Henry Stewart, a seasonal Cape resident who spends half of the year in New Hampshire, called the cost of gasoline “awful” as filled up his tank Friday.

“But, I don’t drive that much,” he added.

Stewart noted the difference in prices in Florida versus up north. He said gas is cheaper out of state, which takes a toll when it comes time to traveling.

“It’s going to cost me a lot of money going back this year,” Stewart said.

According to Brady, an uptick in the price of gasoline is normal at the end of February or the beginning of March as the winter blend fuel is switched out.

“The summer blend fuel is more expensive to produce because there are required additives that have to be added to the fuel for admissions purposes,” she said. “Year over year, we see gas prices start to increase at this time.”

Couple the spike in cost from the blend switch with current global issues, like those tied to Iran, and consumers are seeing prices rise higher than ever.

“Unfortunately, the price of gas is the price of gas, and there’s not much that can be done to change it,” Brady said.