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I think that mooching implies that you are taking something without any reciprocation. If you are always going over to your friend's house empty handed to watch a movie and drink their beer and eat their food, then you are at risk of being a mooch. But if you are coming over with some chips and salsa, while another friend brings the beer, and the host has rented a movie, then you are all sharing a movie with snacks at home as a less expensive alternative to going out for a movie and a beer.
That doesn't mean that you should always feel obligated to bring something whenever you get together with friends, but you should ask if they want you to pick something up on the way over. Also, you should play the host from time to time as well. It is all about reciprocity. If you don't ever give back, then your friends might have cause to resent you.
All of the above also assumes that you and your friends are all on an equal financial footing. I have been in the situation of being employeed while some of my friends were graduate students. I would happily host my friends at my place with food and drink provided knowing that I was able to do this more comfortably than they could. If you are close with people, they will understand that you don't have the cash to spring for premium beer or whatever.
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You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.
- Albert Einstein
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