Throughout her life, Alexandra Penney's worst fear was of becoming a bag lady. Even as she worked several jobs as a single mother, wrote a bestselling advice book, and became editor in chief of Self magazine, she was haunted by the image of herself alone, bankrupt, and living on the street--she even went to therapy to alleviate the worry. And then, one day, that's exactly what happened. She had taken a friend's advice and invested nearly all of her savings with Bernie Madoff. This memoir chronicles Penney's struggle to cope with the devastating financial and emotional fallout of being cheated out of her life savings and illuminates her journey back to sanity, solvency, and security.--From publisher description.

December 11, 2008 -- AAA : Activity Alleviates Anxiety -- There is no such word as NO -- Rich bitch : Madoff + 24 hours -- Roadtrip with "the girls" : Madoff + 2 weeks -- Urgency at all costs! -- There IS such word as No -- Copy shop collapse : Madoff + 3 weeks -- Change is good : my fishmonger days -- The kindness of friends and strangers : Madoff + 5 weeks -- Everyone has a story to tell -- If you think you have no options, think again -- My new life as a person of reduced circumstances (PoRC) : Madoff + 5 weeks -- How to make love to a man -- What money can and cannot buy : Madoff + 6 weeks -- How to heal a broken heart -- Real estate woes : Madoff + 2 months -- The pink ribbon -- What can I live without? : Madoff + 2 months -- What the bag lady really fears -- How to look and feel good when recently broke -- The bag lady throws a party.