I stopped helping my sister when it became clear she was unwilling to help herself despite asking is to bail her out numerous times in numerous ways.

I will help friends when I can but, like Divvy, I may only do it once pending the response. It's not that I want reward or thanks, but I live a busy life and if the recipient is taking advantage of me or is totally ungrateful - forget it. Never again.

I will offer help and if declined then so be it. But I don't always wait to be asked because a lot of my friends are too proud to ask for help.