How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980)

Set against the backdrop of Oregon in 1980, three women, Jane, Elaine and Louise, grapple with the harsh realities of economic downturn. Jane, a single mother yearning for marriage, is perpetually cash-strapped, forced to seek privacy with her boyfriend in the confines of her car. The arrival of her war-veteran father only adds to her turmoil, upending her already chaotic life. Louise, blessed with a blissful marriage to a veterinarian, Albert, juggles between her passion for running an antique shop and the grim reality that it generates no profit. The IRS is breathing down her neck, pushing her to the brink of a fiscal cliff. Elaine, abandoned by her husband and left penniless, finds herself in a relentless battle with banks and utility companies. Amidst her struggle, she attracts the attention of a local police officer, Jack, adding a dash of romance to her financial chaos. Salvation appears on the horizon when the local mall announces a contest featuring a colossal money ball, promising relief from the biting inflation. Elaine hatches a daring plan to rob the money ball and split the loot with Jane and Louise. However, their path to financial freedom is littered with unexpected challenges, as one disaster after another threatens to derail their audacious plan. In "How to Beat the High Cost of Living," the trio navigates a labyrinth of comedic situations and precarious scenarios, underlining the lengths people will go to weather the storm of economic hardship.

How to Beat the High Cost of Living is a comedy movie featuring Susan Saint James.

How to Beat the High Cost of Living is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Tubi TV and it's also available on Amazon Prime Video.

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