Trefiq https://trefiq.com/ Trefiq publishes clear, sourced explainers on money, health, technology, home, auto and travel news that affects everyday decisions. en-us Windows 10 security updates won't stop Oct. 13: Microsoft extended consumer coverage to Oct. 12, 2027https://trefiq.com/tech/windows-10-security-updates-ending/https://trefiq.com/tech/windows-10-security-updates-ending/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTechAI-GeneratedMicrosoft added a year to Windows 10 consumer Extended Security Updates, now through Oct. 12, 2027. Who is covered, how to enroll and what to plan next. Medicare open enrollment starts Oct. 15: what to review before you pick 2027 coveragehttps://trefiq.com/money/medicare-open-enrollment-2027/https://trefiq.com/money/medicare-open-enrollment-2027/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMoneyAI-GeneratedMedicare open enrollment runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2026. What changes for 2027, including the $2,400 Part D cap, and how to compare plans. When the 2027 Social Security COLA will be announced, and how it is calculatedhttps://trefiq.com/money/social-security-cola-2027/https://trefiq.com/money/social-security-cola-2027/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMoneyAI-GeneratedThe 2027 Social Security COLA depends on September inflation data due Oct. 14. How SSA calculates it, the base it uses, and when checks change. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV shots this fall: what CDC and FDA recommend for the 2026-27 seasonhttps://trefiq.com/health/fall-vaccines-2026/https://trefiq.com/health/fall-vaccines-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHealthAI-GeneratedCDC still urges a flu shot for everyone 6 months and older. Who can get 2026-27 COVID-19 and RSV vaccines, and where official guidance differs. HealthCare.gov open enrollment for 2027 runs Nov. 1 to Jan. 15: what changed in premium tax creditshttps://trefiq.com/money/aca-open-enrollment-2027/https://trefiq.com/money/aca-open-enrollment-2027/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMoneyAI-GeneratedHealthCare.gov open enrollment for 2027 plans runs Nov. 1 to Jan. 15. The enhanced subsidies are gone; here is how the tax credit works now. Winter heating bills 2026-27: EIA expects heating oil costs to jump while gas and propane homes pay lesshttps://trefiq.com/home/winter-heating-costs-2026/https://trefiq.com/home/winter-heating-costs-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHomeAI-GeneratedEIA expects heating oil bills up 21% and natural gas bills down 9% this winter. What the forecast means for your home, and where to find help with costs. Daylight saving time ends Nov. 1: how to protect your sleep, and where permanent time standshttps://trefiq.com/health/daylight-saving-time-ends-2026/https://trefiq.com/health/daylight-saving-time-ends-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHealthAI-GeneratedClocks fall back at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Federal tips for adjusting your sleep, and the status of the House-passed bill to make daylight time permanent. Thanksgiving and December holiday travel 2026: key dates, ID rules and TSA packing tipshttps://trefiq.com/travel/holiday-travel-2026/https://trefiq.com/travel/holiday-travel-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTravelAI-GeneratedThanksgiving is Nov. 26 and Christmas falls on a Friday this year. Key travel dates, booking protections, ID rules and TSA tips for holiday trips. Year-end tax moves for 2026: how to use the new deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and state taxeshttps://trefiq.com/money/year-end-tax-moves-2026/https://trefiq.com/money/year-end-tax-moves-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTMoneyAI-GeneratedBefore Dec. 31, see how the new 2026 deductions for tips, overtime, seniors and car loans, plus the $40,400 SALT cap, could change your tax bill. Flying this winter? The ID rules for REAL ID, TSA's $45 ConfirmID fee and passport timinghttps://trefiq.com/travel/real-id-and-passport-rules/https://trefiq.com/travel/real-id-and-passport-rules/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTravelAI-GeneratedREAL ID has been required to fly since May 2025. What happens if you arrive without one, how the $45 ConfirmID fee works and how long passports take. Holiday shopping scams to watch for this season: fake shops, delivery texts, gift cards and payment appshttps://trefiq.com/tech/holiday-shopping-scams-2026/https://trefiq.com/tech/holiday-shopping-scams-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTechAI-GeneratedFake stores, bogus delivery texts, gift card demands and payment app tricks: how to spot this season's common shopping scams and where to report them. HSA and FSA limits for 2027: what the IRS has set so far and how to use open enrollmenthttps://trefiq.com/health/hsa-fsa-limits-2027/https://trefiq.com/health/hsa-fsa-limits-2027/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHealthAI-GeneratedThe IRS set 2027 HSA limits at $4,500 for self-only and $9,000 for family coverage. The 2027 health FSA cap is not out yet; the 2026 cap is $3,400. Home energy tax credits after 2025: what ended, what you can still claim and the help that remainshttps://trefiq.com/home/home-energy-tax-credits-2026/https://trefiq.com/home/home-energy-tax-credits-2026/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHomeAI-GeneratedThe 25C and 25D home energy tax credits ended after Dec. 31, 2025. What you can still claim on 2025 returns, how carryforwards work, and help that remains. Flight canceled or badly delayed? What U.S. airlines owe you, and what changes on Oct. 19https://trefiq.com/travel/flight-delays-what-airlines-owe-you/https://trefiq.com/travel/flight-delays-what-airlines-owe-you/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTravelAI-GeneratedFederal rules require automatic refunds when your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you choose not to fly. What else airlines owe you. Getting your car ready for winter 2026-27: a checklist for the battery, tires, fluids and emergency kithttps://trefiq.com/auto/winter-car-checklist/https://trefiq.com/auto/winter-car-checklist/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTAutoAI-GeneratedA winter car checklist built on NHTSA and Ready.gov advice: test the battery, check tire pressure and tread, top off fluids and pack an emergency kit. How to protect your phone number from SIM-swap and port-out fraud, and where the FCC rules standhttps://trefiq.com/tech/sim-swap-protection/https://trefiq.com/tech/sim-swap-protection/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTechAI-GeneratedSIM-swap and port-out scams hijack your phone number. How to lock your carrier account, where the FCC's 2023 rules stand, and what to do if it happens. Passkeys explained: what they are, how to turn them on and what happens if you lose your phonehttps://trefiq.com/tech/passkeys-explained/https://trefiq.com/tech/passkeys-explained/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTTechAI-GeneratedPasskeys replace passwords with a key kept on your devices. How they work, how to set them up for Google, Apple and Microsoft, and how recovery works. The new car loan interest deduction: who qualifies, which vehicles count and how to check a VINhttps://trefiq.com/auto/car-loan-interest-deduction/https://trefiq.com/auto/car-loan-interest-deduction/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTAutoAI-GeneratedThe 2025 tax law lets buyers deduct up to $10,000 a year of interest on loans for new, U.S.-assembled vehicles through 2028. Who qualifies, how to check. Buying an EV without the federal tax credit: what still lowers the cost after the $7,500 credit endedhttps://trefiq.com/auto/buying-an-ev-without-the-federal-tax-credit/https://trefiq.com/auto/buying-an-ev-without-the-federal-tax-credit/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTAutoAI-GeneratedFederal EV tax credits ended for vehicles acquired after Sept. 30, 2025. What still cuts costs: state and utility incentives, cheaper charging, used EVs. Winterize your home before the first freeze: a checklist for pipes, gutters, heating and safety alarmshttps://trefiq.com/home/winterize-your-home-checklist/https://trefiq.com/home/winterize-your-home-checklist/Mon, 12 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTHomeAI-GeneratedA pre-freeze checklist based on FEMA, Red Cross, NFPA and CPSC advice: protect pipes, clear gutters, service heat, test alarms, use generators safely.