I've been feeling like a moocher lately because of medical bills - I'm battling a type IV cancer and the healthcare costs are eating me alive. So I'm on a super-tight budget and then I've had friends cover some of my expenses, which I really appreciate, but then I feel guilty. However I remind myself that when the situation was different, I paid for poor relatives and friends who needed help and this has never been a lifestyle choice for me. When I've traveled with friends we normally split the expenses, etc. When I got cancer though, friends just started to insist they were picking up the dinner check. I think it gives them a chance to express how they feel.