Long story short, a fairly close friend has just messaged me asking to borrow some money until tomorrow. I've lied and said I don't have it. I feel like a shit for lying now and I'm not even sure my reasons for lying justify it.
I've lied because:
I would have had to give her my bank card as I don't really carry cash.
The money is almost certainly for booze. Not a problem in itself but by her own admission her drinking is getting problematic (every afternoon, right into the evening).
The reason she can't afford to buy it herself is because she's heavily subsidising her ex (his comparatively expensive car was financed in her name because he couldn't get credit but he hasn't been paying her, for example.) She's also been giving him money for his rent, white goods, petrol, and even short holidays. We've been discussing her finances a lot recently because she's struggling and I'm quite good with money but she doesn't seem to be able to say no to him and is throwing good money after bad.
I'm a single mum currently on benefits. Even though I'm good with money, none of it is exactly spare. Because of her issues, I know there's a chance I won't get it back.
How big a cow am I? Should I have done something different?