Well I agree that a) you should never be pressured to contribute and b) it seems unfair that people didn't step up for you. However it is possible they didn't percieve your need. Also, ultimately we are responsible for our own behavior and no one else's. Therefore, I would do what feels right for you, i.e. if you can't contribute financially but would like to contribute in some way, you could offer to help out in some other way, perhaps. In my experience it is best not to expect things tit for tat. For example, I was extremely generous and helpful to one group of friends when I was younger, kind of almost a mom to them, and yet when I got older, had a kid and needed some help back, they were not there for me. However a totally different group of friends were extremely supportive and even came to my rescue when I needed it. I feel I was "given back to", just by a totally different group of people! I realized that the other group just didn't get it, but it didn't matter, the Universe did.