Cheap as chips: Mum's life-saving snack hack wows amidst cost-of-living crisis

"This is definitely the way to go," a shopper said about the 33c lunch box addition.

With inflation being the relentless beast that it is, mums are getting more and more creative when it comes to trying to save a buck (or a hundred) on their weekly grocery shops. 

Of course, luxury items are out of the question at the moment, but now, an unassuming pantry staple is also getting the axe from savvy shoppers - multi-pack snacks. 

While it may look like you're getting a good deal for buying in bulk, those variety packs that we often grab for the kids' lunchboxes are actually a sneaky little scam. 

You end up paying for the box, the extra individual packaging and the "convenience" of pre-portioned snacks.

But one clever mum in the Mums on a Budget Facebook group has shared a budget hack that sees her divvying up a $2.69 packet of chips into separate lunchbox-ready bags. 

Here's how she made the DIY chips multipack. 

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"I couldn't justify paying $8 for one pack." Image: Mums on a Budget

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"I just realised - eight packs for $2.69"

Taking to the group, mum Sarah wrote, "Does anyone else do this... just realised eight packs for $2.69."

The Sydney woman then shared a photo of the 250g pack of $2.69 Sprinters Salt and Vinegar chips from Aldi.

Next to the bag, were eight mini snap-lock bags packed to the brim with chips. 

The simple trick means that each individual portion costs around 33c, whereas some shoppers have paid up to $10 for 20 bags (or 50c each) when buying pre-packaged multi-packs. 

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"I do this with pretty much everything"

Fellow bargain hunters loved the mum's frugal tip, taking to the comments to share their praise as well as other similar hacks. 

"The multipacks are very dear now. So definitely the way to go," one person wrote. 

Another said: "I buy two big bags, usually cost around $6 and then I have enough for three kids' lunches for five days. It's so much cheaper and they actually get more in these than they do the little packs."

Then someone else added: "Did this this week, couldn't justify paying $8 for one pack. Got a $3 big bag. It's nuts the prices of things these days."

And a fourth wrote: "I just did this with a bag from Costco, I don't know what it worked out to be but it was crazy cheap!"

"I do it with pretty much everything. These snack bags you get in the shops are the biggest waste of money and the serving size is tiny," someone else stated.

Finally, someone went a step further and said they save even more money by going plastic-free and placing a handful of chips in a section of a bento-box style lunch box. 

Originally published as Cheap as chips: Mum's life-saving snack hack wows amidst cost-of-living crisis