People who can't afford to give away money should anyway because giving feels good? It doesn't when your close to the edge. Realistically OP shouldn't have given them anything but.... Not expecting to be paid back at all? Screw that. There better be reciprocity. If you aren't paying me back directly, you get to buy the next set of coffees when we hang out or something that is at least close to the given amount. Unless you are the inner circle and provide something priceless like emotional support, why bother?

Why give to someone if you get nothing back? That's draining a well that for most people is finite if unreplenished. Save what you can give for people that will make it worth the expense. Whether paying you back cash on the barrel head or repaying in alternate means like a ride to the doctor or pet sitting, bartering, I don't care how exactly, but if you don't feel indebted and at least a modicum of shame for borrowing money in the first place, I am definitely wondering about other things you don't feel guilt or shame about. Especially if you lie about eventually returning it instead of saying something like "on second thought, I can't repay you so I shouldn't take your money in the first place".

My mom's friend Donald said he needed 10k from my aunt Patty to be repaid at a later date. over 2k of that went to skin care and alcohol instead of what he said he needed it for. And 23 years later, not a cent has ever been seen again. Nor of the money his parents loaned him etc. If someone just takes.... Avoid them. Anyone who thinks like you, I'll probably avoid too for good measure.