How to Beat the High Cost of Living 1980

In the quiet suburb of Eugene, Oregon, three lifelong friends—Jane](/actor/jane-curtin), Elaine, and Louise—are grappling with the challenging realities brought on by economic struggles and personal upheaval. Still reeling from her recent divorce, Jane finds herself navigating a tangled web of relationships, including her would-be love interest, Robert, her newly single father, and her young children, who are in urgent need of dental care. The unexpected news of her pregnancy further complicates her financial situation, leaving Robert deeply distressed.

Meanwhile, Elaine experiences a dramatic upheaval when her husband leaves her for a younger woman, plunging her into a sea of overdue bills and mounting credit card debt. In her desperation, she faces the harsh reality of having her electricity shut off, leading to a night of drinking that ends with an embarrassing encounter with police officer Jack. Initially hesitant, Jack eventually falls for Elaine’s charms, yet she feels vulnerable when he reveals he is married.

As their financial troubles escalate, Louise must confront a daunting court order from her ex-husband, Albert, who plans to use their accumulated debt against her. Determined to improve their circumstances, the women devise a plan for a yard sale, with Elaine even considering selling off her ex-husband’s belongings.

Inspired by a seemingly innocuous clear ball she sees at a local mall, Elaine believes it is the key to a financial windfall. She calls upon Jane and Louise to assist her in a daring scheme to extract cash from the ball by drilling a hole beneath it and using a high-powered vacuum. However, their grand plan is interrupted when they are caught in the act by Officer Jack.

In a desperate attempt to prepare for their heist, the women conduct a practice run, during which Jane attempts an armed robbery at a Safeway store in Medford. Regrettably, her lack of experience is laid bare when the cashier mistakes her pistol for a toy water gun, forcing her to flee empty-handed.

As the night of the intricately designed heist arrives, each woman embarks on crucial missions at the local mall. Jane and Louise move beneath the cash ball with precision and grace, while Elaine prepares to execute her role in activating the lighting controls for their escape. However, their meticulous plan is put at risk when a minor mishap creates enough noise to potentially alert mall security.

In a moment of inspiration, Elaine seizes a nearby spotlight and launches into an impromptu performance art piece, passionately criticizing the exorbitant costs of modern life and the crises that accompany it. As she strips away her inhibitions, a nearby light pole crashes down onto the cash ball, scattering a shower of banknotes throughout the mall, prompting shoppers to scramble for the free money amidst the chaos.

During this pandemonium, Jane and Louise manage to escape towards the nearby river, two trash bags filled with their ill-gotten cash in hand. However, while navigating the water in a canoe, Louise’s moment of distraction causes them to capsized, forcing both women into the turbulent waters with Louise’s inability to swim heightening the urgency of the situation.

When dawn breaks, the trio reconvenes by the riverbank, their spirits dampened by the loss of their loot. Tensions flare as they argue over the consequences of their escapade, mired in feelings of regret and disappointment.

Yet, a glimmer of hope arises when Louise spots a floating bag drifting downstream, prompting all three women to dive into the water to retrieve it. This brief moment of unity, however, is short-lived as their lives ultimately veer in different directions: Jane marries Robert, establishing a new life highlighted by her father’s condo in a senior complex; Louise reignites her entrepreneurial spirit and rekindles her romance with Albert; and Elaine finds comfort in Jack’s arms, using her secret cache to restore the luxurious lifestyle she once enjoyed.