Good news – the cost of supermarket shopping has come down. But there is still more you can do to lower how much you spend on groceries than just rely on the stores’ price war.

In fact, it pays to be more vigilant than ever to avoid falling for pricing gimmicks.

Grocery comparison site Mysupermarket.co.uk warns that while falling prices mean bargains are there to be had, many supermarkets are dramatically changing prices on a monthly basis in a bid to catch out shoppers.

For example, the price of pasta jumped almost six per cent between August and September, while cucumbers (four per cent) and carrots (four per cent) were also notably more expensive.

After analysing the cost of 35 weekly essentials at the major supermarkets, the comparison site found the total cost came in at £85.93 in September - cheaper than August’s bill of £86.75, and the lowest seen all year.

The research shows you would have paid five per cent, or £4.88, more for the same shop last September.

So what else can you do to help keep the cost of your shopping down? Here are six top tips:

Prepare a list

Whether you shop in store or online, take the time to organise your food shop to protect you from unnecessary spending. Armed with a list, you will not be tempted or confused by offers you do not need.

Watch out for false economies

Supermarkets sometimes use multibuy promotions to get us to spend more. What is more, most of us do not even use the extra products, resulting in more food waste. To see if an offer is really worth it, remember to compare the price per unit and think "am I buying this because I need it, or because it is on offer?"

Bulk-buy the non-perishables

If you have the space, then bulk-buying non-perishable items when they are on offer prevents you from paying more later down the road. Stock up while the price is down and save in the long run. Some classic examples of products that will suddenly appear on a great deal and which are ideal for bulk-buying are washing-up liquid, shower gel, tinned tomatoes, crisps, toilet paper, deodorant, toothpaste and fizzy drinks.

Swap and save

Bigger packs do not always mean better value. Remember to check unit price when comparing items, it may actually be cheaper to get smaller packs. Also consider switching your brand loyalty and experiment with other manufacturers' products. This does not always mean moving to own brand but by increasing flexibility you will be able to bag more bargains.

Compare

With every supermarket claiming to be the cheapest, how can you really know that you are paying the best price on your weekly shop? Compare your shop from retailer to retailer and you will always get the best deal.

Carrier bags

A new 5p charge for carrier bags has now kicked in so remember to start taking your own to the supermarket or risk adding to your bill. There is more about the plastic bag charge here