Teresa Ambord is a former accountant and Enrolled Agent. Now she writes business and consumer articles full time. For fun, she writes about family, friends, and her pets for publications like Chicken Soup for the Soul and Cup of Comfort. Her family warns, “Watch what you tell her, it could end up in a book.” Teresa shares her rural northern California home with her small dogs who inspire her writing and decorate her life.
TERESA'S ARTICLES
ADVICE & MORE
- Discounts and Other Perks for Our Veterans on Veterans Day (November 2017)
- Shopping Online for the Holidays? Consumer Reports Offers Tips for Enhanced Security (November 2017)
- Tips to Avoid Scams and to Enjoy Halloween Safely (October 2017)
- A Pair of Current Scams that Specifically Target Seniors: What You Need to Know to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim (September 2017)
- Enjoy Your Holidays, but Keep Your Eyes Open for Signs of Elder Abuse (November 2016)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Need to Know to Stay Safe While Traveling and at Home (November 2016)
- Summer Potpourri (July 2016)
- Buried in Old Paperwork? Got the Urge to Purge but Afraid to Get Rid of Documents? (May 2016)
- The Annual Dilemma… What Will You Buy Mom for Mother’s Day? (May 2016)
- Prepare Your Finances for Disaster with an Emergency Kit (December 2015)
- An Interesting Way to Honor America’s Fallen Veterans (November 2015)
- Apps to Make Life Easier and Apps for Fun – and for Great Gifts (November 2015)
- Need a Great Employee? Hire a Veteran, Young or Old (November 2015)
- Thanksgiving Idea That will Capture Your History and Your Heart (November 2015)
- Stay Safe While the Trick or Treaters Are Out for Fun (October 2015)
- Kidnapped! A Scam without Borders or Conscience (August 2015)
- Living on the Love Boat: How Does It Compare to the Cost of Assisted Living? (June 2015)
- With Wedding Season Here Again, Online Dating May Have New Appeal (June 2015)
- Anyone Can Pose as a Financial Planner: No Experience Necessary (May 2015)
- What You Need to Know About Hospice (May 2015)
- Looking for a Rental Property During a Landlord’s Market (April 2015)
- Staying Safer (April 2015)
- A Phone Plan to Suit Your Personality and Your Pocket Book (November 2014)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know So You Can Enjoy the Holidays More and Stress Out Less (November 2014)
- Be Alert to Signs of Elder Abuse: Here’s What You Can Do to Help (October 2014)
- How to Turn up the Heat against Those Trying Fraudulently to Turn Back Time (October 2014)
- Grandkids Make You Smarter… Till They Don’t (August 2014)
- Potpourri: Travel Smarter this Vacation Season (August 2014)
- Potpourri: Tips to Help You Travel Smart and Safe this Summer (July 2014)
- Starting a Business of Your Own: It Can Happen (July 2014)
- Where Will Granny Live? (July 2014)
- A Few Pointers from Seasoned Pros in Online Dating (May 2014)
- Looking for Love Online: For the Young and the Young at Heart (May 2014)
- A Helping Hand for Those with Long‑Term Care Needs (March 2014)
- Creating a Living Will Is Not Hard or Expensive (March 2014)
- Use Medical Credit Cards with Caution (January 2014)
- The Invincible Judge Judy: A Favorite Among Baby Boomers and Their Parents (January 2014)
- The Downside of Assisted Living: What You Need to Know (December 2013)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know about Christmas Shopping Savings – And Safety While You Shop (November 2013)
- Love Your Car’s Remote Entry Key Fob? Thieves Love it Too (October 2013)
- Avoid the Flood of Health Care Scams (September 2013)
- Lookin’ for a Job: What to Do and Not Do (September 2013)
- Tips for Choosing an Affordable Assisted Living Facility (September 2013)
- Safeguard Your Money When You Travel (August 2013)
- Travel Insurance May Save Your Bacon (June 2013)
- When Housing Needs Change, What are Your Options? (June 2013)
- Did You Say… Food Stamps for Pets? (April 2013)
- Who Has to Pay for That? (March 2013)
- New Habits: In With the Good, Out With the Bad (February 2013)
- Too Old to Hire, Too Young to Retire? Nonsense! Research Shows Older Workers are a Bargain (February 2013)
- Feeling Sandwiched? A Rising Trend in Today’s Economy, Multiple Generations Under One Roof (November 2012)
- It Wasn’t Me, Grandma, Really!” Body Language May Help You Decide Who’s Telling the Truth… and Who’s Not (October 2012)
- Over 50 and Headed Back to School? (October 2012)
- What’s It Like to Go Back to College? (October 2012)
- What About Fido? Do You Have a Backup Plan for Your Pets if You Can’t Care for Them? (September 2012)
- Medicare Open Enrollment is Right Around the Corner: Should You Change Your Plan or Stick With the Old One? (August 2012)
- Renting a Car for Your Summer Travel? Tips for Saving $$ and Avoiding Problems (August 2012)
- Beware the Danger of Carrying Your Medicare Card (June 2012)
- Divorced and Over Fifty? You’re Part of a Growing Trend (June 2012)
- Teaching Grandma to Text (May 2012)
HEALTH
- Keeping Safe and Healthy for the Holidays (October 2017)
- How Long Will You Live? The Answer May Be in Your Mirror (August 2014)
- Navigating Medicare: A Toolkit to Find Answers (April 2012)
HUMOR
- Every Christmas Present was Gone… Stolen! (December 2015)
MONEY
- Divorced and Considering Remarriage? Consider Estate Planning Arrangements First (November 2017)
- Stuff You Should Know to Protect Your Money and Your Identity from Schemers, Scammers and Other Creeps (November 2017)
- Don’t Fall for Disaster-Related Scams (October 2017)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know to Protect Your Assets, Your Cash and Just Possibly… to Rearrange Your Work Life (October 2017)
- Stuff You Should Know about Estate Planning (October 2017)
- Consider a Health Savings Account to Boost Your Retirement Savings (August 2017)
- Life Insurance Is a Flexible Tool (August 2017)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know to Keep Your Money Safe from Scams, Schemes, and Scoundrels (August 2017)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Stuff You Should Know to Protect Your Retirement Funds, Your Investments, and More (July 2017)
- Tax Deferred Is a Great Advantage… That Can Blow up in Your Face Tomorrow (July 2017)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know about an Important Resource and the Latest Scams to Avoid (June 2017)
- Stuck with Student Loan Debt? You’re Not Alone: Grandma, Will You Cosign a College Loan for Me? I Promise I’ll Make the Payments! (June 2017)
- Potpourri: What You Should Know to Protect Your Benefits, Your Rights and Your Assets (May 2017)
- Some of the Often Unknown, But Important Facts about Trusts, Estate Planning and Probate (May 2017)
- How Safe are Your Bank Deposits? (April 2017)
- Do You Employ a Household Worker? Don’t Run Afoul of the Law (March 2017)
- Get Through Tax Season Unscathed (March 2017)
- Keep Up with the Latest Scams Designed to Steal Your Money (March 2017)
- Butter is for Churning – Not Your Finances: Do You Know what Your Financial Advisor Is Really Up To? (February 2017)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Stuff You Should Know about Money and Taxes (February 2017)
- Home Sweet New Retirement Home? Bitter State Taxes Could Kill the Deal on Where You Choose to Live (January 2017)
- Tax Refund Delays Ahead… But Slower is Better (January 2017)
- Thinking of Moving to a Different State? Differing Property Rules Can Cost You a Lot (January 2017)
- New Costs for Medicare in 2017 (December 2016)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know to Protect Your Assets (December 2016)
- The Psychics Appear to Know All – But Do We Know Them? (December 2016)
- Some Seniors Get an Extra Year for Medical Tax Break (November 2016)
- Life Insurance Is Vital for Many, But Beware the Pitfalls (October 2016)
- When the Adult Kids Move Back in, or Never Leave (October 2016)
- Taxes and Mortgage Scams: Stuff You Should Know to Protect Your Money and Other Assets (September 2016)
- Vital Documents Gone Astray: You Might Be the Beneficiary on a Lost Life Insurance Policy (September 2016)
- You’re Not Too Smart to Fall for a Lottery Scam (September 2016)
- July Potpourri: Your Health – Check Billings, Cut Costs, Heed Warnings (August 2016)
- Metals – Sometimes Precious, Often a Scam: Silver, Gold and Collectible Coins in Your Retirement Nest Egg (August 2016)
- You Gave Your Power of Attorney to the Wrong Person… Now What? (August 2016)
- Beware! Tis the Season for Counterfeit Money (July 2016)
- Biting into the Donut Hole of Drug Costs (July 2016)
- Avoid these Money-Stealing Scams (June 2016)
- Life Insurance: A Few Things You Need to Know (June 2016)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Need to Know to Protect Yourself and Your Money - Answers to Medicare Questions (April 2016)
- What Are Your Chances of Needing Long-Term Care? And Then, How Will You Pay For It? (April 2016)
- Lump Sum Pension Payouts: A Good Idea for You? (March 2016)
- What to Do When an Inheritance is Coming Your Way (March 2016)
- January Potpourri: One Way to Reduce Prescription Costs and Other Pill-Related Stuff (February 2016)
- Mysteries Are Fun, But Your Estate Plan Shouldn’t Be Mysterious (February 2016)
- A High-Paying, Fast Growing Industry Made for Veterans Young or Old, with Free Training (January 2016)
- What You Should Know to Protect Your Money and Your Identity in Tax Season, Plus Why Do We Say ‘Pay Through the Nose?’ (January 2016)
- Helping the Grandkids Pay for College (December 2015)
- What’s New for Social Security in 2016? Not Much (December 2015)
- October Potpourri (November 2015)
- Medigap Can Be a Great Comfort If It’s Right for You (October 2015)
- Stuff You Should Know to Stay Safe and Avoid Scams and Scoundrels (October 2015)
- You Don’t have to Be Dead Broke to Qualify for Medicaid (October 2015)
- Do Savings Bonds Make You Yawn? (September 2015)
- Ghosts Walk Among Us and They Have Credit Cards (September 2015)
- No Wonder I’ve Lived This Long – I Can’t Afford to Die (September 2015)
- The Worst Places to Hide Money in Your House (September 2015)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Information about Making Money, Keeping Your Money, and Other Stuff That’s Just Good to Know (August 2015)
- What You Should Know about Scams and Scoundrels Who are Out to Steal Your Money (August 2015)
- When Adult Kids Live in Your House (August 2015)
- June Potpourri: Stuff You Need to Know About Your House, Your Money, Other Stuff (July 2015)
- What You May Not Know about Medicare and Social Security (July 2015)
- Health and Money: Stuff You Need to Know About Your Health Insurance and Other Healthcare Issues (June 2015)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Need to Know About Your Social Security, Your Assets, and a Few Freebies (June 2015)
- April Potpourri: Staying Out of the Legal and Identity-Revealing Swamps, Plus Some More Freebies (May 2015)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know to Keep Your Money and Your Identity Safe… Plus a Few Freebies (April 2015)
- Why You May Need Renter’s Insurance and/or a Personal Umbrella Policy (April 2015)
- Home Repair and Improvement Scammers Target the Elderly (March 2015)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know to Help Keep Your Money and Your Identity Safe… Plus a Few Freebies (March 2015)
- Seven Signs that You May Have a Bad Financial Adviser (March 2015)
- Tax Information that Could Save You Money or Help You Avoid IRS-Stress, Plus Some Nice-Try-But-No-Deduction Stories (March 2015)
- Caring for an Older, Dependent Family Member? Claim Your Tax Deductions (February 2015)
- How Your Age May Affect Your Credit Score (February 2015)
- Tax-related Scams That Target the Elderly and Vulnerable and What to Watch For (February 2015)
- The Cost of Some Home Care Workers Won’t Change After All (February 2015)
- Consider This Lower Cost Way to Pay Big Expenses: A Home Equity Line of Credit (January 2015)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know to Keep Your Money and Your Identity Safe… Plus a Few Freebies (January 2015)
- Make Your Own Final Arrangements: Ease the Burden On Your Loved Ones (December 2014)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Need to Know About Your Money, Threats to Your Identity, and Your Estate (Plus a Few Freebies!) (December 2014)
- Tax Time is Rolling Up Fast Too Fast. Here are Some Points You Should Know to Minimize Your Taxes, Preserve Your Money, and Avoid Tax-Related Scams (December 2014)
- What’s Best for You -- Bank, Credit Union or Going Bankless? (December 2014)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Stuff You Need to Know About Your Benefits, Your Life, Your Money, and How to Make the Most of It All (November 2014)
- Could Your Housekeeper Sue You? (October 2014)
- Is Your Retirement Plan Doable? (October 2014)
- Help the Grandkids with College, Rake in Tax Benefits for Yourself (September 2014)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Information You Need to Protect Your Money and Your Identity (September 2014)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Information about Your Money, How to Protect it and Make it Last Longer (August 2014)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Information about Your Money, How to Protect it and Make it Last Longer (July 2014)
- The Beneficiary of Your Spouse’s Retirement Account May Not Be You (July 2014)
- A Way to Pay for Long-Term Care: Your Life Insurance Policy May Help (June 2014)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know About Your Money (June 2014)
- Reverse Mortgages Are Great for Some, But Not for Everyone (June 2014)
- April Potpourri: Miscellaneous Information to Protect Your Money and Make it Last Longer (May 2014)
- Are You Paying Gray Charges? (May 2014)
- Phone Pains: How Thieves Use Our Phones Against Us (May 2014)
- Can You Lend Me a Few Bucks? I Promise… I’ll Pay You Back (April 2014)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know about Your Security, Your Money and How to Keep More of It (April 2014)
- Shopping with Coupons is Not Saving Pennies: Some Take it to the Extreme (April 2014)
- Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know About Your Money (March 2014)
- Are Your Adult Kids Bad With Money? How to Leave an Inheritance to People Who Can’t Handle it (March 2014)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Stuff About Money and How to Protect Yours (February 2014)
- What You Need to Know to Minimize Your Estate Taxes in 2014 (February 2014)
- Financial Potpourri: Stuff You Should Know to Protect Your Money from Thieves and Outrageous Taxes (December 2013)
- Getting Paid to Be Your Parents’ Caregiver (December 2013)
- Penny Pinchers Unite! Discounts for Seniors are Out There (November 2013)
- Who Wants to Win Big on a Game Show? Are You Sure? (November 2013)
- You Bought It, You’re Stuck With It Right? Maybe Not (November 2013)
- A Just-in-case Plan if You Are Incapacitated (October 2013)
- Money Walks… But Where Did it Go? (October 2013)
- Potpourri: Miscellaneous Stuff You Should Know About Social Security and SS Disability (October 2013)
- When Someone Dies, You Need to Do… What? (September 2013)
- Selling Your Car: Know the Latest Scams (August 2013)
- Who Can Spot Elder Financial Abuse? (August 2013)
- Mortgage Relief Scams are Everywhere (July 2013)
- What You Don’t Know About Medicare Part D Can Cost You (July 2013)
- My Cautionary Tale: How Thieves Cleaned out My Bank Account, and How You May Be Able to Avoid It (June 2013)
- What to Do When Foreclosure Rears its Ugly Head (June 2013)
- 6 Ways to Pay Less Tax on Your Retirement Funds (May 2013)
- 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees (May 2013)
- The Job Scene for Mature Workers: The Jobs Are Out There (May 2013)
- Five Biggest Insurance Mistakes to Avoid And Tips for Saving $$ (April 2013)
- Stop Credit Thieves Cold with a Credit Freeze (April 2013)
- Did You Get a Large Sum of Money? Avoid Going from Rags to Riches and Back to Rags (March 2013)
- Getting Married Later in Life: Money Matters to Consider (March 2013)
- Is Your Social Security Check Safe from Garnishment? (March 2013)
- How Can I Avoid Early Withdrawal Penalties on My IRA or 401(k)? (February 2013)
- Which Housing Option is Best for Seniors – Rent or Buy? (February 2013)
- Is Your Wallet Reaching Out to Thieves? (January 2013)
- There is Life after Bankruptcy: Tips to Rebuild Your Credit (January 2013)
- What Happens to Your Debt When You Die? (January 2013)
- Bolster and Protect Your Retirement Funds Before the 2012 Clock Runs Out (December 2012)
- Hit the Ground Running in 2013 by Slowing Down: Update! (December 2012)
- Counterfeit Bills Are Everywhere, Especially During and Just after Holiday Season (December 2012)
- Taking Care of Mom and Dad: A Labor of Love With Possible Tax Breaks (December 2012)
- Mystery Shopper: A Real Job, or Yet Another Scam? (November 2012)
- Should You Spring for the Extended Warranty or Not? (November 2012)
- Your Caller ID May be Scamming You (November 2012)
- Beware the Danger of Getting Behind on Property Tax (September 2012)
- Phone Ringing Off the Hook With People You Don’t Know? Scams and More Scams (September 2012)
- Ready to Ditch Your Employer Health Insurance for Medicare? If Your Spouse Is Younger, Slow Down! (September 2012)
- Beware Fake Job Offers: Advice from the Better Business Bureau (August 2012)
- Grandparents Beware! Your "Grandkids" May Be Picking Your Pockets... Or Are They? (August 2012)
- Prepare for High Health Care Expenses in Your Golden Years With an Annuity (August 2012)
- Tips for Paying Down Credit Card Debt Faster (August 2012)
- Going Back to Work? How Much Social Security $$ Will You Lose? (July 2012)
- Should You Close Unused Credit Cards? (July 2012)
- Do You Bank Online? Are You Sure It Is Safe? (May 2012)
- The Plans No One Ever Wants to Make: Funeral Arrangements (May 2012)
- Work-at-Home Job Offers? How to Identify the Scams (May 2012)
- Help! The IRS Wants to Talk to Me! Now What? (April 2012)
- Hit the Ground Running in 2012 by Slowing Down (April 2012)
- How to Avoid Bad-Apple Tax Preparers (April 2012)
- Looking for Part-Time Work? (April 2012)
- When I Can't Speak for Myself (April 2012)
- While You Were Sleeping Fake IRS Agents Were Hard at Work (April 2012)
- Your Future Comfort Could Depend on Long-Term Care Insurance (April 2012)
NEWS
- A Raise in Social Security for 2018 – Time to Rejoice or Regret? (November 2017)
- It’s That Time Again – Medicare Open Enrollment: What’s New for 2018? (November 2017)
- Are You Smarter Than a Medicare Thief? (March 2016)
- Social Security Ain’t What it Was Just a Few Weeks Ago (March 2016)
- Social Security Strategies Slated for the Dustbin in 2016 (February 2016)
- You Might be Participating in Medicare Fraud (July 2015)
- Veterans End-of-Life Benefits (January 2015)
- When You’re 64: Initial Enrollment in Medicare is a Critical Time. What You Don’t Know or Don’t Do Can Cost You for the Rest of Your Life (January 2015)
- Reports of Your Death May Be Premature – And They May Terminate Your Social Security (September 2014)
- 10 Worst States for Retirement (February 2014)
NOSTALGIA
- Bound Together at the Heart (June 2012)
REFLECTIONS
- Little Becomes Much (May 2017)
- Jake’s First Christmas (December 2016)
- My Dad Raised Sweathogs (June 2016)
- Dad Spoke Car-lish (June 2015)
- All Alone – But Happy – On Mother’s Day (May 2015)
- A Clever Easter Basket Gone Wrong (March 2015)
- The Ugliest Christmas Guest Ever (December 2014)
- A New Take on Thanksgiving (November 2014)
- Suddenly Single Father of Four (June 2014)
- Who Wants to Be Betty White? People of a Certain Age (April 2012)
TECHNOLOGY
- Been Filing off Your Fingerprints Lately? (December 2013)
TRAVEL LOGS
- Fall Vacations and Upcoming Holiday Trips: Keep Your Money Safe (September 2014)
- A Cruise Isn’t as Expensive as You Might Think (January 2014)