Synopsis

How to Beat the High Cost of Living (1980)

Oregon, 1980: Jane, Elaine and Louise are all feeling the effects of inflation and cannot afford the high cost of living. Jane cannot afford a babysitter or get married and if she wants privacy with her boyfriend, she has to sleep in the car. Even worse, her war veteran father comes to live with her to turn her life upside down. Louise lives a happy life with her veterinarian husband, Albert. She runs an antique shop on the side, but since it doesn’t take in any profit, the IRS considers it a hobby. She needs to come up with the money to keep it going, or she will be trouble with the IRS. Elaine’s husband has left her for another woman and without any money. She is in a constant struggle with banks, power companies, and gas stations. She needs money to get by and also catches the eye of police officer Jack. The local mall is having a contest that features a giant money ball that states it will help fight the inflation.
Robert Scheerer, Ana Maria Quintana
Susan Saint James, Jane Curtin, Jessica Lange, Richard Benjamin, Eddie Albert, Cathryn Damon, Dabney Coleman, Fred Willard, Art Metrano, Ronnie Schell, Michael Bell, Sybil Danning, Al Checco, Susan Tolsky, Garrett Morris, David Lunney, Michael K. Daly, Byron Morrow, James “Izzy” Whetstine, Jack Krupnick, James Aday, Wesley Baldwin, Sarah Leonard, Allan Warnick, Robin Hickman, Danielle Maye, Tom Morrison, Jane Van Boskirk, Jon Dickman, Bill Ritchie, Robert Canaga, Stan Boyd, Jerry Zinnamon, Tom Gressler, Pip Miller, Ralph Garrett, Robert W. Talbot, Harvey Lewis, Nanci Westerland, Joan Schumacher, Scott Barkhurst, Linda Hall, Craig Jackson, Larry Woodruff, Colleen Murff, Jonathan Schwartz, Wendy Shawn, Cindy Douglas, Chris Strong, Carmen Zapata
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