We’ve all been asked to do something for someone else. Saying 'yes' to everything can make you uncomfortable and leave you with less time to do what you need to do; and saying 'no' leaves you feeling guilty. But there are ways to say no without causing bad feelings. The following are some common favors asked and ways to politely decline the request while maintaining a positive relationship:

Can I borrow some money?
Floating someone ten dollars to cover lunch is one thing, but a larger loan can be something else entirely. Getting into money issues with friends is a tricky situation that often leads to problems. This is especially true if the friend doesn’t make paying you back a priority because of your friendship. Politely state that although you’d like to help, you keep a strict policy of not loaning money to friends.

Can I borrow your car?
Besides your house, your car is one of your biggest investments. You’re right to protect it, especially if the potential borrower needs a car because they wrecked theirs. Most auto insurance policies cover someone else at the wheel of your car, so claiming “no insurance” isn’t a valid reason. Reply that you don’t loan items that are valued over a certain dollar amount. If you have time, offer a ride instead.

Can you manage the fundraiser this year?
It’s easy to feel manipulated into volunteering. If you’ve donated time in the past, people feel comfortable approaching you about volunteering again. Avoid the manipulation—say you won’t be able to volunteer this year, and suggest that someone new who hasn’t been asked before step up.

Can you make it to my annual chili cook-off?
If you hate chili and really don’t want to go, let the host know that although you’ve had a great time in the past, this year your schedule is already packed and you just can’t squeeze it in. This way, the host can’t take your rejection personally. Be up front, though…don’t say you’ll come and then not show up or cancel at the last minute.

Can you mentor the summer intern this year?
Side projects can eat up a tremendous amount of time on the job. If you don’t have time to do the work, ask your boss to reprioritize certain tasks or put some of your normal work on hold temporarily. You don’t actually have to say no; this approach puts the responsibility back on your boss to decide. If you are directed to take on the extra work anyway, note the hours involved for your annual performance review.