"Nobody said anything about money when they asked for help. You know I'm broke, and any money I do get has to go to school or food and it's not fair for you to try to pressure me into paying." Stand up for yourself. Who cares if they think you're cheap anyway?

keep ignoring that little detail.

Seems a bit much if you're not family.

Honestly this isn't a situation you should have ever been put in, and you need to use your boyfriend as the mediator he should be. When I hear "I need help with a baby shower" I think showing up early to set out decorations and food and maybe organize some games, hundreds of dollars isn't something you spring on someone. They're using you and it's unreasonable. Tell your boyfriend you will help set up, maybe buy a cake, but that HIS family needs to foot the bill for the shower they're putting on for her. He needs to pass the message along, and have your back on this.

That just sucks tell them that was not part of the part of the deal

Just explain you can't afford it! How can someone judge you for not wanting to spend that kind of money in a stupid baby shower?!

helping out is when you help decorate or run an errand not pay for everything thats rude that they would ask that of you

You have no obligation to pay them. Just tell them you refuse to pay that much money for someone who isn't related to you in any way

Yeah that's def not cheap they're the ones who tricked you into thinking you have to pay instead of doing manual work like you thought.

Just say no. No one can take advantage of you unless you let them