Why September is the perfect time for a financial reset: The 27 easy money-saving tips I swear by that could save you thousands: GEMMA BIRD

September has always felt like the perfect time for a fresh start. The summer is over, we're heading into the colder months and Christmas suddenly isn't feeling quite so far away, so it's a good opportunity to take stock of your finances and make a few simple changes.And you don't have to make huge changes to save money. There are lots of little things you can do around the house, with your weekly shop and your everyday spending that can really add up.‘Money Mum’ Gemma Bird has amassed more than 500,000 followers on Instagram thanks to her clever money-saving tips and tricks. Here, she shares 27 easy ways to cut your spending this autumn – from checking your energy tariff and bleeding your radiators to saving on your food shop and planning ahead for Christmas.1. I review my energy tariff before winterOctober is a really good time to look at your energy tariff and check what you're currently paying, then see whether there are better deals available. I'd use a comparison site such as Compare the Market to get an idea of what's out there, but I'd also call my existing provider and ask them directly whether they can move me on to a better tariff.Sometimes simply asking can get you a better deal. I'd also check whether I'm in credit from the summer months, as that can help when you're heading into a period when your energy usage is going to increase. I'm a big believer that you don't have to make huge changes to save money 2. I bleed my radiators before I turn the heating onI recommend bleeding your radiators once a year, ideally just before you turn the heating on for winter. If you notice that a radiator is cold at the top but warm at the bottom, that's usually a sign it needs bleeding.You can do it yourself with a radiator key, and doing it before the heating season means your radiators should be working as efficiently as possible when you need them.3. I only boil the kettle for the cups I needIf I'm making one or two cups of tea, I only put that amount of water in the kettle. There's no point boiling enough water for eight cups when you're only making two – you're just using extra energy for no reason.It might seem like a tiny saving, but these little habits really do add up.4. I cancel summer subscriptionsAt the end of summer, I go through any subscriptions or memberships I signed up for during the warmer months. It could be an outdoor swimming club, a seasonal activity or something else that automatically rolls over when you haven't actually decided to continue with it.It's so easy to forget about these payments, particularly when they're relatively small, but they can quickly add up.5. I start spreading the cost of Christmas nowI don't wait until December to buy everything. If you're buying presents for nine people, for example, buy three presents in September, three in October and three in November.Then, when December comes around, you're mainly looking at stocking fillers and any last-minute bits. It makes the whole thing feel much more manageable because you're not suddenly having to find a huge amount of money in one month.I'll also look at buying things that keep well, such as Christmas cakes and puddings, when they come out, and I'll freeze anything I can.6. I buy children's Christmas presents second-handFor children especially, I don't think you need to spend a fortune on presents. I'll look on Facebook Marketplace and in charity shops for gifts.I've found brand-new children's games and sets for around £4 in charity shops. My kids have always been used to going into charity shops, and they're just as excited to unwrap something that cost a fiver as they would be something much more expensive.7. I draught-proof my doors and windowsI use UPVC draught excluder tape around doors and windows where there are gaps and you can feel cold air coming through. It's really inexpensive – you can get it for around £6.99 on Amazon – and it's very easy to put on yourself.It's one of those small jobs that can make a noticeable difference because you're stopping warm air escaping and cold air coming in.8. I only heat the rooms I'm actually usingIf you've got a big house and you're not using every room, there's no point heating them all day. My mum turns the radiators off in the spare rooms and only puts them back on occasionally to keep the damp off.It's such a simple thing to check if you're trying to cut your energy bills.9. I get my boiler serviced every yearI make sure my boiler is serviced every year, and autumn is a good time to think about it because you're heading into the months when you're going to rely on your heating much more.It's not just about saving money – it's important for safety, too.10. I go through my wardrobe before buying more clothesBefore I go shopping for autumn clothes, I go through my wardrobe and look at what I've already got.If you've already got loads of jumpers, do you really need another one? I'll also look at anything I haven't worn for a couple of years. If I don't need it, I'll sell it rather than letting it sit there taking up space.11. I check all my loyalty pointsI log into all the accounts where I've built up points – whether that's Tesco Clubcard, Nectar or points on a credit card – and see what I've accumulated over the year.Then I'll look at each reward scheme and work out how I can get the best value from them. Sometimes points can be worth more when you use them for days out rather than simply spending them in store. But there's no point collecting them if you're never actually going to use them.12. I buy for next summer while things are in the saleIt sounds strange to shop for summer when we're heading into autumn, but this is exactly when I look for bargains for the following year.If I've noticed that my children have outgrown their swimming costumes or that we needed something during the summer, I'll look for it now while it's reduced. You can pick things up much more cheaply than waiting until next summer, when everyone wants them again.13. I use cashback when I'm buying something anywayI use TopCashback and I always check it before buying something online. My thinking is simple: if I'm going to make the purchase anyway, I may as well see if I can get some money back.I recently asked my Instagram followers about this and £250–£300 a year seemed to be a realistic amount that people were making through TopCashback, although obviously it depends on how much you spend. Over a year, those small amounts can really add up.14. I check my gutters before autumn really sets inI look at the outside of my house before autumn and winter arrive, particularly the gutters, fascias and soffits.I've just had mine cleaned and was told that, because they hadn't been done for nearly two years, leaving them could have ended up costing me a lot more money if they'd caused problems. It's one of those jobs that's easy to ignore until something goes wrong, so I'd rather check now.15. I use the supermarket scanner to keep track of my food bill I use the supermarket scanner to keep track of my food bill before reaching the checkoutIf you're someone who tends to pick things up as you walk around the supermarket, try using a scanner. Tesco, Waitrose, Asda and Sainsbury's all have similar options.I find them really useful because you can see exactly how much you're spending as you go around rather than waiting until you reach the checkout. It makes you much more aware of what's going into your trolley and helps you stick to the amount you actually intended to spend.16. I use my hands instead of a basketIf I'm only going into the supermarket for a few things and I know I'm someone who tends to add extras, I won't take a basket.I'll carry what I need in my hands because I can only physically carry a few things. It sounds ridiculous, but it stops me wandering around adding loads of things that weren't on my list in the first place.17. I go through my bank statements to spot spending habitsIf you haven't properly looked at your spending this year, I'd go back over the last six months.I'm not just looking for big purchases – I'm looking for patterns. It might be regular Starbucks coffees, clothes, perfume, takeaways or subscriptions. Those smaller, repeated purchases can really add up without you noticing.Once you can see your spending habits clearly, you can decide which ones you could cut back on or change.18. I save money on paydayThis is something I've always done. On the day I get paid, I pay all my bills and then immediately put aside whatever I can afford to save – whether that's £20, £50 or £100.Then I live on what's left. At the end of the month, if I've got anything left over, I'll add that to my savings too and start fresh again the following month.19. I batch-cook to make expensive ingredients go furtherIn winter, I love batch cooking things such as stews, casseroles and spaghetti bolognese. If I'm using my oven, I'll try to get three or four dinners out of it rather than cooking one meal.One of my favourites is beef casserole. I'll buy around 500g of meat and make two big casseroles, bulking them out with carrots, potatoes, parsnips and tinned tomatoes.Meat is expensive, so I look at what's the most expensive ingredient and bulk it out with cheaper vegetables. You can even put carrots in a blender and blend them into bolognese if you've got fussy eaters.20. I switch off things I'm not usingI make a habit of checking the switches and plug sockets around the house and turning off anything I'm not using, particularly in rooms that aren't being used.It's one of those things that a lot of people overlook, but I've made it a habit now.21. I check my ISA and pension contributionsHalfway through the tax year is a good time to check how much you've put into your ISA or pension and whether you could afford to increase your contributions before the end of the tax year.The current ISA allowance is £20,000 a year, so if you've got money sitting in a normal savings account and you're paying tax on the interest, it's worth looking at whether you could put some of that money into an ISA instead.For me, it's about checking that my money is working as efficiently as possible rather than leaving it sitting somewhere unnecessarily.22. I check whether I'm entitled to financial supportIf you're struggling financially, don't assume you're not entitled to any help. I'd use Entitled To to check what benefits or support you might qualify for.You put your information in and it tells you what you're eligible for, so you don't have to work everything out yourself. It's a really useful tool if you're not sure what help is available.23. I set up flight alerts before booking a holiday I'll look for sales and deals, as well as use Google Flights to set up notifications for updatesIf I'm planning a holiday, I'll look for sales and deals and use Google Flights to set up alerts for flight prices.I'd also be flexible about where I fly from. Sometimes changing your departure airport can make a huge difference to the price.24. I use flight points and companion vouchersI use a Virgin credit card and build up points through my normal spending. Depending on the card and the tier you're on, you can also earn companion vouchers, which can be particularly valuable when booking flights.I'd always look at what's available before paying full price for flights and keep an eye out for sales and special offers.25. I compare different airports before bookingI use Skyscanner and look at all the possible routes rather than assuming the nearest airport will be the cheapest.When we were in America, flying from Vancouver was going to cost significantly more, so we got an Amtrak train to Seattle and flew home from there instead. That saved us around £1,000 on the flights.It shows that sometimes it pays to think about the whole journey rather than just searching for a flight from the airport closest to you.26. I search for the same holiday property elsewhereIf I find a holiday property I like on Airbnb, I don't automatically assume Airbnb is offering it at the cheapest price.I'll save a picture of the property and put that image into Google Image Search. It can often find the same property listed elsewhere, including directly with the owner or on another booking site.It's worth doing because you could find the exact same accommodation without paying the additional fees charged through Airbnb.27. I look for discounts before paying full price for a day outBefore booking a day out, I always look at supermarket coupons and magazines, such as the Tesco ones, for offers on attractions and activities.I'd also check the attraction's own website because there can be promotions running directly. And don't forget about loyalty points and rail offers – they can sometimes bring the cost down significantly.The important thing, though, is not to be tempted into spending just because something is discounted. It's only a saving if you were actually planning to do it in the first place.The key thing is that you don't need to do all 27. Some of these tips might save you £20, others could save you hundreds. It completely depends on your circumstances, but if you make enough small changes, they really can add up to hundreds, if not thousands, over the course of a year.For more money-saving tips, follow Gemma Bird on Instagram @moneymumofficial