Am I being used by my friends?

Yes you are being used because you are ALLOWING them to use you. You are so desperate to have people to hang out with so you can think they are "friends" that you are being taken advantage of. You probably don't want to say anything in case they get mad and stop hanging out with you, but that wouldn't be so bad if they did stop. But consider this, as long as you let them walk all over you, you will have no self respect and they certainly won't respect you either. They see how you give and go out of your way for them and they're going to get all they can get so you had better create boundaries with these people. If some of them actually become true friends, then you can be giving with them, but these people are aquaintances at best. Stop throwing away your money on them too. If you're in a situation and they don't have any money, guess what? neither do you. Oh well, time to go home. See ya. That way you have your money AND your peace of mind at home. And you won't be imposing on your parents either.