situation in which you have to say "no," your approach is going to depend (somewhat) on the circumstances. For example, you might decline a request from your boss a bit differently than you would a homeless person -- unless you work for a homeless boss, of course. A request for your hard-earned money, dwindling time, hand-me-down sweaters, unrivalled affections, crock pot buying advice, and semi-valuable petition signature may all require a different kind of "no." It depends on how you feel about the situation, who's asking you for help, and whether your resources you have available in the request's category. This is why declining a request can often get a little tricky. It's not always as simple as answering the question of "do I want to do this?" It also kind of is. It helps to understand how you feel about a given situation ahead of time and who you'd be willing to help so you can give an honest answer when asked. Often times the guilt from saying "no" can stem from not really feeling confident in the reason why you said it in the first place. If you think about these things ahead of time and understand why you don't want to sign a petition or donate money to a cause you support when asked on the street, you won't leave with guilt sinking into the pit of your stomach. Once you've figured out how you feel, it'll be easier to go with your gut on certain decisions.