“Guess they expect me to just give it to them so I usually tell them no. I have a good friend who borrowed $600 last month and is supposed to pay me back in a week. I expect it to end our friendship.”
Always tell friends, and usually tell family, “No.” You provided the reason for the former in your post. It almost always ends badly, in my limited experience.
“Don’t have it & I’d have to borrow it to get it” usually turns them away.
I know that. But I’m at the-point where I don’t care if it ends badly. Tired of being surrounded by constantly needy people. I’d rather be by myself.