AS carrier bag charges come into force on Monday, shoppers will face shelling out 5p to take their good shome.

But here are a few tips to keep your general grocery bill down and make back those savings, according to comparison site mysupermarket.co.uk.

  • 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 whilst 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.