better coding methods to freeing active ram in small pics

[Mike, K8LH]

I notice that nested IF's use less code space than one if with multiple AND's.
Probably it use less ram.
For more complex condition instead of
IF (x<8 OR X>2) AND y=1 THEN your stuff...(77words used)
I use this:

IfVar=0
IF x<8 THEN IfVar=1
IF x>2 THEN IfVar=1
IF y<>1 THEN IfVar=0

IF IfVar=1 THEN
    IfVar=0
    your stuff...
ENDIF

31 words used.
IfVar is unused bit of byte. For example IfVar var seconds.7

But wouldn't that be the same as;

    if y = 1 then
        your stuff...
    endif

????