Mimi Pockross, wife and mother of two young boys, is newly entrenched in her adopted city of Denver. Feeling very isolated with no real friends and few contacts, she decides to open a southwestern arts and crafts gallery. At the same time that she is pursuing her quest to turn her gallery into gold, she is paying back a hefty loan, combing Santa Fe, New Mexico and its environs for her inventory. In addition to facing the many struggles of a new business owner, she is also overseeing her children's school and home life, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and tending to her busy husband. It's the 1980s, a time of economic volatility, changing roles for women, and the usual daunting obstacles associated with raising a family. Shopping for a Living is the unique tale of a woman who wants it all and does her best to achieve that goal.