The AAA examines these holiday traveling plans and released a statement last week saying that about 46 million people throughout the country plan to travel this season. That's up 4 percent over the 2013 holiday season. The best part, though, is that petroleum costs will be an average of 46 cents lower per gallon than a year ago. That's a seasonal low five years in the running.

The savings could be great enough that you could boost your holiday spending budget for things including presents and parties, but some analysts think that higher retail prices could offset any spending gains. Regardless, you can still travel more on your gas budget than you would have been able to otherwise.

If you will be driving at all, though, the staffers at Christian Brothers in Tulsa, OK recommend performing a wintertime auto checkup before you head out. More driving means your risk of dealing with ice and snow goes up, making this especially important.

Stop by our shop in Tulsa and we will help with the following recommendations by the Car Care Council:

• Flush and clean the antifreeze and cooling systems
• Test and re-aim lights for winter driving
• Get an oil change
• Check the tire tread and pressure
• Check the spark plugs
• Make sure the heater and your car's engine thermostat are working properly
• Test for health-threatening carbon monoxide leaks
• Check the brakes
• Check the battery and charging system

You should also do things such as stocking the car with food, warm clothes and scrapers. Finally, our techs say you should never let your fuel get too low to prevent frozen fuel lines.