u/Homeless__Steve

AITA for being upset that my girlfriend didn't get me anything for my birthday or our one-year anniversary?

I (17M) have been dating my girlfriend (17F) for a little over a year. Our one-year anniversary and my birthday were only a couple of days apart.

For our anniversary, I got her a Polaroid camera and flowers. For her birthday, I got her a cat tree. I put a lot of thought into both gifts because I wanted to make her feel special.

When my birthday and our anniversary came around, she didn't get me anything for either occasion. I know she doesn't have a lot of money right now, so I wasn't expecting anything expensive. I honestly would have been happy with something small, like a handwritten card or even something homemade.

She said her gift to me was taking me to the city so we could see a movie and go out to eat. The issue is that we ended up splitting the cost of the movie tickets, the restaurant bill, and the gas. Because of that, it didn't really feel like a birthday or anniversary gift to me. It just felt like a normal date that we both paid for.

I tried to talk to her about how I felt, and I got emotional because it hurt that I put effort into making her feel special, but I didn't feel like the same effort was put into me. She said she thought taking me to the city was enough to cover both my birthday and our anniversary.

I didn't tell her that it didn't feel like a gift because we split all the costs, because I know money is tight for her and I didn't want to sound ungrateful. At the same time, I feel like even a simple card or homemade gift would have shown that she put thought into it.

Now I feel guilty for being upset, because I know she isn't in a great financial situation.

AITA for feeling hurt that she didn't get me anything and that we split the costs of what was supposed to be my birthday and anniversary present?

She makes me so happy and always makes me feel like special but this is the first time she has done something like this.