The activities and traditions of the holiday season are over. It is now time for family routines to be re-established. Before settling in to the usual routines, take a look at your activities and decide if the things you are doing are still in the best interest of your family.

Take time to discuss with your family the activities that are important to each of you. Continue activities that have meaning. Start new ones that build your relationships together.

No matter how your family is defined or what stage of life your family is in, it's never too late to strengthen your family relationships. Best wishes to you in strengthening family bonds during 2002.

College students enjoying their first taste of independence sometimes find the numerous credit card offers they receive too tempting to resist. Credit card marketers flood campuses with low-rate introductory offers, enticing students to carry not only one, but several credit cards at one time.

Credit cards can help with essentials or emergencies during the college years. Too much debt, however, can be damaging for students who don't realize the long-term implications of carrying debt.

Credit card usage is growing on college campuses, according to the Consumer Federation of America. In a 1999 study on the costs and consequences of student credit card debt, findings showed that 70 percent of undergraduates of four-year colleges had at least one credit card. One-fifth of students carried credit card debts of more than $10,000.

The widespread access to credit cards is not so much a problem for college students as the lack of financial information on how to use the cards wisely. For example, every time you apply for a credit card, a credit check is made. Excessive credit checks can lower a student's credit rating. So when students graduate, they may have difficulty renting an apartment or buying a car. Some employers examine credit histories before hiring, so late credit card payments or missed payments can even damage job prospects.

Information on understanding credit terms, comparing credit offers, and deciding how much credit is needed is important for anyone who applies for and uses credit cards. University of Illinois Extension offers educational materials on credit card use. Ten fact sheets on obtaining and using credit cards are available on the Internet at http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/cfe/ccs/index.html.

Out of sight, out of mind—that saying fits septic systems well. That is, until there are problems. If you live in a rural area, it's important to know how a septic system works, to avoid failures that could cost thousands of dollars. There are also health and safety concerns. University of Illinois Extension has a new publication that could help you avoid these problems.

Septic Systems: A Homeowners Guide, is now available. Chapters in the book include, how septic systems work, best management practices on water use, septic system maintenance, and troubleshooting common problems. It includes tips on septic system use, and illustrations showing how properly functioning systems treat waste water.

Rural homeowners, builders, septic system installers and cleaners, and realtors will find a great deal of useful information in this booklet.

Copies of Septic Systems: A Homeowners Guide are available in the Extension office.

University of Illinois Extension Small Business Development Center, The Chamber of Commerce for Decatur and Macon County, and the Internal Revenue Service are presenting a workshop on January 10, 2002 for small business owners. Workshop topics include:

IRS Requirements

• The different types of business entities and which might be best for you.
• How to apply for your Employers Identification Number.
• Your tax responsibilities — including Employment Taxes and year-end reporting.

Record Keeping

• What business records must be maintained.
• How long you need to keep records on file and available.

Employment Taxes

• Who is considered employees, independent contractors and self-employed.
• Your responsibilities regarding Federal Withholding Tax, Self-Employment Taxes and Federal Unemployment.
• How and when to compute the taxes, report them, and make your required deposits.

The Tax Workshop will be held at the University of Illinois Extension Small Business Development Center, 2525 Federal Drive, Suite 1105, in Decatur. Registration and breakfast begin at 8:30 a.m. and the program concludes at 4:30 p.m. The $15 registration fee includes breakfast and lunch. To register, or for more information, call the Small Business Development Center at 875-8284.

Seeking employment is a challenging and sometimes frustrating task. The Workforce Alliance Workshop is designed for people seeking help while they are unemployed. The workshop will be held at the Champaign Extension Auditorium located at on January 22, 2002 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Local and state agencies and institutions will provide information and assistance. These include the Illinois Department of Employment Security, Parkland College, U of I Extension Champaign Unit and the Champaign Consortium.

Seeking employment involves several issues that will be discussed in the workshop. Some of the topics include:

• Debt Management & Budgeting
• One-Stop Career Center
• Job Search Assistance/Job Club
• Educational Assistance
• IL Department of Employment Security Services
• Family Services

The workshop is free and enrollment is limited. Registration is required by January 21, 2002. Call the Champaign Extension Unit at 333-7672 for registration.