Why I'm reluctant to volunteer

Don't get me wrong - I have the UTMOST respect for volunteers.  Often they're doing a job nobody else is willing to do, and what's more, they're doing it out of the goodness of their heart, or a genuine interest in the area they're volunteering in.  But these days, often one of two things happen, which make me reluctant to volunteer:

1. IT'S NEVER ENOUGH.  You know the drill.  Somebody asks for help with something.  It may be an organisation you're already involved in, or your child's school, or a community organisation you know of.  You assess your own situation - maybe you have kids, or work full time, or have other commitments (or you have kids, work full time AND have other commitments)....and think, yes, I can manage this one thing.  So you're cruising along, feeling quite comfortable in your one thing....when suddenly, BAM!  They're looking for somebody to do another 'little job'.  They start looking your way, and you just know it's only a matter of time before somebody directly approaches you to take on the job.  And not only that, they EXPECT you to say yes.  And they're often quite offended, even rude, if you refuse.  No reason is good enough; I once pointed out that I was working one full time job, one part time job, raising four children and already being secretary for an organisation's project as a reason why I why I felt I wasn't able to also take on the role of fundraising manager, and was told huffily 'Well, we're ALL busy!'.  I'm sure we all are....but right at that moment, I just didn't feel superhuman, and was literally at the limit of all I could humanly manage.  I was also rather offended that my current contribution clearly wasn't considered 'good enough'.  Really, if people are volunteering their time for free, you'd think every little bit helped?

2. THE ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYONE HAS EITHER MONEY, OR TIME.  Schools are a particularly common culprit in this one.  I am usually happy to put a couple of dollars in for fundraising, if I have it.  But sometimes - you just don't have it.  And that's when they hit you with the 'oh, you could volunteer your time'.  Hmm....yes I could....if I had any!  There seems to be some misconception that you don't have any money because you don't do anything.  Perhaps this is because usually, if you have money you work a lot....unfortunately, the opposite usually isn't true.  The reality is, a lot of people (myself included) spend the majority of their time earning enough money to support themselves.  And nobody's immune in my house - everybody has a job to do to to keep this household and family ticking along in any kind of regular manner!  The shock, the horror, children in our family actually have some responsibilities.  I know it's a radical idea, but we do it a) out of necessity and b) in the hope that we're raising well rounded, responsible children who know the value of their contributions to society.  And, believe it or not - all this pesky parenting takes time too!  Unfortunately, as yet they haven't invented a video game that teaches kids good values, but if they do, i'll be sure to give it a look.

So yes, currently the idea of volunteering for anything leaves a sour taste in my mouth.  Which is sad, because I have previously been the kind of person who loves to help - if I can.  I just don't like being forced into it.

How do others feel?  Have you experienced either of these attitudes?