Single Mom in Spent Documentary Face Financial Insecurity

I received a link to watch a new documentary called Spent, Sponsored by American Express, that both angered me and enlightened me. Focusing on the lives of four families, Spent spins the tale of economic hardship so many Americans face. Financial insecurity grips one in four households and now, more than ever, they are one paycheck from being homeless.

What angered me was the struggle these families had with meeting basic needs without going further in debt. Check cashing and title pawn shops are a real problem the working poor feel they must use just to make it. Why? The answer will shock you and make you a little upset too. You may or may not use financial services like these, but if you ever find yourself tempted to walk through the doors of one of these places, heed my warning and run the other way!

Spent highlights the financial problems the families face and the reasons why they are still in trouble. The point is not so much finding one solution but introducing at least three initiatives that may head off the problem for future generations.

Watch Spent to see how circumstances and choices can affect your financial life. See how a single mother, parents with an autistic child, a hardworking couple, and a business owner all struggle with money and attempt to solve their problems. The film will make you think and hopefully make better choices from this point forward.

RichSingleMomma.com is here to help you navigate through the financial landscape as a solo parent. Let’s talk about choices you can make to ensure you don’t fall into a cycle of financial insecurity or at least begin to journey to a more secure financial future.

More about the film

Spent: Looking for Change is a film about everyday Americans without the financial options most of us take for granted and the movement giving them renewed hope. We invite you to view the full documentary for free on The Young Turks’ YouTube channel, American Express’ YouTube channel, and here at SpentMovie.com, and share your thoughts on social media using #Spent or #LookingForChange.

Turning to pawn shops, check cashing services, and using payday loans to meet basic financial needs can be costly for many of us, with $89 billion a year going to fees and interest¹ for using these types of alternative financial services.

It’s time for change. New technology, new ideas and encouraging dialogue around this issue can help make managing money simple and more affordable.

American Express is sponsoring this documentary to help improve financial inclusion in the U.S. Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim is the executive producer of the documentary which is narrated by Tyler Perry and directed by Derek Doneen.

American Express is also spearheading several initiatives to drive innovation in financial services to help improve the financial options available to those who are financially underserved. Find out more and take action.

The film will be available online for free, providing anyone the opportunity to watch, engage in conversation, and join in on helping to spread awareness or work towards building better solutions.