How to Beat the High Cost of Living is a 1980 American comedy heist film directed by Robert Scheerer and starring Susan Saint James, Jane Curtin, and Jessica Lange.

The film features supporting performances by Dabney Coleman, Fred Willard, Richard Benjamin, Eddie Albert, Scott Elliott, Cathryn Damon, Sybil Danning, and a cameo by Curtin's fellow Saturday Night Live co-star Garrett Morris.

Jane is divorced, trying to cope with the man she is dating, Robert; her newly single father, who moves in after his wife leaves him for another woman; and her young children, who need dental work.

Elaine stares at a clear ball soon due to hold thousands of dollars in a giant cash "give away" and formulates the idea of stealing the money.

Jane and Louise go to work beneath the cash ball while Elaine readies herself to throw the switch to the mall's lighting controls, aiding their escape.

Some time later, Jane has married Robert and gotten her father a condo in a senior's complex; Louise reopens her store and takes back her husband, whom she had left; and Elaine begins dating Jack, with enough secret money to return to the lifestyle she had been accustomed to.

The pair first made the financially successful Love at First Bite, which gave them the green light to make How to Beat the High Cost of Living with younger, lesser-known names.

[7] After 20th Century-Fox acquired the rights to develop the film, they sought Ali MacGraw, Goldie Hawn, and Barbra Streisand for the lead roles; Ann-Margret was also considered.

[7] After the development with 20th Century-Fox fell through and American International Pictures took over the production, offers were made to Margot Kidder, Dyan Cannon, Sally Field, and Diane Keaton, but each turned down the project.

[6] Eventually, Jane Curtin, who had garnered notoriety for her work on Saturday Night Live, was cast, alongside Susan Saint James and Jessica Lange.

He thought Kaufman's screenplay was "full of failed wisecracks about money, sex, children, marriage and even former President Richard M. Nixon" and that Scheerer was "something of a con artist in the way he has persuaded some gallant actors to make fools of themselves to such small purpose.