Re: Is it rude?
If someone uses me once…shame on them. If they use me a 2nd time…shame on ME. 
I have a FEW close people who I consider “close friends”…and of course, I have my parents/siblings/fiance…and am close to 2 1st cousins. Everyone else (including other extended family members) are “acquintaces” in my book. I keep in touch with them…but at the end of the day, if a situation warrants it, I will not hesitate cutting them out of my life. To be honest…I have actually cut off all contact with one of my dad’s sister’s and her kids b/c of their…let’s just say drama. Back in college…I ended a 7 year friendship b/c of some cr*p a friend pulled.
Personally, I don’t believe in “calling” people out on anything. If I believe someone is using me or brings any sort of negativity into my life…I simply cut them out. Yes, at times I may have to see them at other people’s events and be polite…but that’s not a big deal to me. It’s not that I “take it quietly”…I choose not to waste my time and energy on people who’re simply not worth it.