I don’t want my friend to stay with me but saying no feels mean. What can I do?

‘You don’t have to put your friend up if it means spending money you don’t have or compromising your own wellbeing at a fractious or important time.’ Painting: An Unexpected Arrival by Carl Schweninger II. Photograph: Artepics/Alamy

I have a friend who got divorced about five years ago. She has been travelling around Australia and in Europe since that time. She housesits and stays in youth hostels (she is 59 ). When she is in my area, she likes to stay at my place. She usually stays for three to five nights and I cook for her. She used to say that she is going to buy a house and wants to find the right house in the right location but she is not saying this any more.

I have been following her travels and noticed that she often stays with people, and then provides comments such as, “The best thing during this stay was the bed and the meals.”