YES, IT'S ONLY money. But that's like saying, "It's only a piranha." What other inanimate entity can cause cringes among colleagues, ignite arguments between friends (even over a restaurant tab) and ...

PROBLEM: You can't buy all the food you'll need for the big day in a single trip. REAL SIMPLE SOLUTION: Divide and conquer. Well before Thanksgiving, make a master list of what you'll need, then ...

• Real Simple solution: If your riding companion is a senior partner at work, avoid talking shop unless you're confident that you can make an intelligent comment about a current business issue.