Seven On Your Side Savings Guide

NEW YORK, NY Our savings project starts at the supermarket.

Couponmom.com founder gave 7 On Your Side's Tappy Phillips a low cost goal.

"You're going to see your grocery bill drop dramatically, 50 percent should be your goal," Stephanie says.

The tip? Use coupons at the grocery store, drug store, even at restaurants. You can find them in the Sunday newspaper or at the entrance to the store itself. And with just a half hour a week of pre-planning, you can save big.

On this trip, we reduced the bill from $71.30 to just 5 dollars after using coupons.

How about saving when you drive? Try a new technique of driving called hypermiling.

The idea is to coast whenever possible. You should avoid sudden starts and slow down gradually rather than applying the brakes. Also, make sure the tires are properly inflated and put the car in neutral while you're sitting at a light, never letting the engine idle.

The savings? For four dollar a gallon gas, that works out to a savings of about 15 dollars per tank.

And you can save when you fill your tank up too.

Many stations are charging more if you use credit over cash. To avoid paying the higher price, consider a gas company credit card. Many stations will give you the lower price if you pay with their card.

And lastly, it's going to get cold soon. So we have tips for keeping your heating bill down.

A well insulated home does not waste energy. Something as simple as a drafty electrical outlet can be easily sealed and save you big bucks in the long run.

And don't forget the little things. Turn off light switches when you leave the room, turn the tv and computers off when they're not in use. Each may save just pennies, but those pennies can add up to dollars.

STORY BY: Eyewitness News reporter Tappy Phillips
WEB PRODUCED BY: Steve Livingstone