Cuddle up and Bing The Pledgettes Movie Club Watch List (Curated by Heidi Buckout)

When Heidi brought the idea of Movie Club to The Pledgettes in 2023, it was a great way to get people talking about a shared experience…without reading a whole book.

Over the past two years, we've gathered to watch documentaries that challenged our thinking about money, consumerism, and the systems we navigate every day. And through it all, Heidi has been our guide, our discussion leader, and our friend.

Heidi: A Founding Member's Journey

Heidi has been with The Pledgettes since the very beginning in 2019. As a Founding Member, she's witnessed and contributed to every evolution of our community. What makes Heidi special isn't just her longevity—it's her willingness to be vulnerable, to share her own experiences, and to create space for others to do the same. She has consistently brought fresh ideas and thoughtful insights that have supported our community's growth in countless ways.

When she proposed Movie Club, it was yet another example of Heidi thinking about what our community needed: a way to learn together, to process complex topics, and to build deeper connections through shared experiences.

Our Documentary Journey

Over two years, we explored films that pushed us to think differently about our relationship with money, consumption, and the American dream. As we tested what worked, we watched some documentaries that had larger economic concepts and some that focused on people’s stories with money. In 2025, Heidi brought an annual theme of Money & Lifestyles. Here's what we watched and learned together:

The Age of Easy Money

This film became our most-watched documentary—literally! The content was so dense that everyone watched it at least once, with many of us returning for a second viewing to fully grasp the technical terms and concepts. We traced the thread from the 2008 housing crash through the Federal Reserve's money-printing response, following the ripples of "fun money madness and chaos" that ensued.

Our biggest takeaways reminded us that we're all part of an interconnected financial system, whether we realize it or not. But being in the system doesn't mean being powerless—it means we need to understand how money and investing work so we can make it work for our best interests. The diverse perspectives from experts in the film gave each of us something unique to take away, and sparked one of our most engaged discussions.

Give it a watch here!

Generation Wealth

Summer brought us this fascinating look at American hustle culture through the eyes of a photojournalist. We explored the uncomfortable questions: How has celebrity culture shaped us? What does it mean for our relationship with money? The film held up a mirror to our society's obsession with wealth and status, and challenged us to examine our own values and aspirations.

Learn more here!

Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy

This Netflix documentary hit close to home for many of us who find ourselves caught in the endless scroll of online shopping. If you've ever wondered why you can't stop buying things online despite wanting to live more simply, this film unpacks the psychology and systems designed to keep us clicking "add to cart." It was both eye-opening and empowering to understand the mechanisms at play.

Netflix users, here’s the link to watch!

Living on One Dollar a Day

This film brought 100% attendance and 100% commitment—every single person watched it before our discussion! We dove deep into conversations about international service work, savings clubs, and intentional spending. The group didn't just critique what the film covered and what it missed (including its notably male perspective), but transformed our insights into action.

We left with concrete goals: planning a future Pledgettes event focused on microfinance, exploring savings circles, recommitting to micro-lending for female entrepreneurs, and practicing more intentional spending. This was Movie Club at its best—moving from discussion to action.

You can find more here!

Playing with FIRE

The FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement sparked a "hot discussion" as Heidi described it. We got honest about what we'd be willing to give up to achieve financial independence—and what we absolutely wouldn't compromise on. The results? We love our high-quality shoes and clothes, making creative meals from pantry leftovers, candles, coffee, and public transportation. The conversation revealed both our shared values and the beautiful diversity in how we each define a meaningful life.

Click here to watch!

Minimalism

Our final Movie Club of the year brought everything full circle. We explored conscious consumerism, how we want to live our lives, and yes, our love of socks and "other precious things." The discussion touched on deeper themes too—the gender dynamics of decluttering, the role of privilege in minimalism, and even the spirituality of our relationship with stuff. It challenged us to think about how we wanted to spend the holidays and what truly matters to us.

Watch here!

A Legacy of Learning and Connection

What made Heidi such an exceptional host wasn't just her ability to pick thought-provoking films—it was how she created space for genuine conversation. She welcomed diverse perspectives, encouraged us to be vulnerable, and helped us connect our personal experiences to bigger systemic issues. Whether we were discussing the Federal Reserve or our favorite socks, Heidi made sure everyone's voice was heard.

Movie Club became more than just watching documentaries together. It became a place to process our complicated relationships with money, consumption, and success. It became a space to learn about microfinance and FIRE and quantitative easing—topics that might have felt intimidating but became accessible through collective exploration. And most importantly, it became another thread in the fabric of community that Heidi has helped weave since 2019.

Thank You, Heidi

As Heidi retires from hosting Movie Club, we want to express our deep gratitude. Thank you for bringing this idea to life. Thank you for showing up to guide our discussions. Thank you for being vulnerable in sharing your experiences and creating space for others to do the same. Thank you for your consistency, your insights, and your unwavering commitment to our community's growth.

You've given us more than movie recommendations—you've given us tools to understand the world around us, language to discuss complex topics, and permission to question the systems we're part of. You've modeled what it means to be a thoughtful community member and a generous leader.

While Heidi is stepping back from hosting, her impact on The Pledgettes continues. The conversations we had, the insights we gained, and the connections we built will ripple forward. And of course, Heidi herself remains a vital part of our community—she's just passing the popcorn.

Thank you, Heidi, for two years of learning, laughing, and growing together. Here's to the next chapter of your Pledgettes journey! 🎬💚

If you want to be part of a community that has been normalizing money talks since 2019, you belong with us! Join us here!