Search Results: girlfriend birthday present

I want to get feedback on my partner:

- She’s not keen on me seeing friends, for my safety and would rather I met them with her. She also uses the find my iPhone feature with me.
- She messages me and phones various times per day, and gets frustrated if I don’t reply quickly, she says it’s to check I’m ok,
- She tracks my spending on her, to check we’re in budget. Even if I a buy a coffee she’s brings it up and asks why I bought it.
- She’s says if I don’t spend $$ on her birthday present I don’t love her. Also said her birthday needs to be “perfect” with hundreds of balloons etc and fancy cake.
- She doesn’t like me having a female friend at work, has told me to stop going to lunch with her. Said it’s to ensure I don’t “cheat”. She messaged my friend at work on Facebook to ask about me.
- My partner doesn’t like me following other girls on social media even friends.
- She told me I can’t have anyone better than her.

Is she a good partner? I’m really conflicted as this is my first relationship. My female friend said there is red flags everywhere, is she right?

I was shocked yesterday when my girlfriend expressed that she thought it was weird that I give a gift AND a card for Christmas, birthdays, etc. (I’m not talking about the generic “Happy Holidays From Our Family To Yours” courtesy cards, I’m talking people you’re close with and exchange gifts with.

I was taught to always buy a card to accompany the gift, and that the card and it’s sentiment is more important than the gift. And when receiving a gift, I was raised to read the card first, take in what’s written in it, and thank the giver, before even opening the present (upon doing so, I’d then thank them for the gift).

In her world, cards are just something you give if you’re not exchanging a gift with someone, just an acknowledgement. If you’re giving a gift, an additional card is unnecessary, unless it’s something like cash or a gift card. And she asked me if I had ever noticed her family doesn’t give me cards with my Christmas gifts, and I guess I haven’t, haha.

I’m not offended by it or anything, I just was surprised because I thought my way was standard. And she said the same, and we’re both questioning it now because we both have small families and subsequently small gift-exchanging circles.

So I’m curious what all of you folks think. Do you give a card AND a gift? Or a card OR a gift? I guess I’m primarily concerned with opinions of people from North American countries/cultures that I’d be around, it might be totally different elsewhere, but all opinions are welcome👍