This is just how awkward and lack of financial sensibilities some women could be who just sits, makes demands and gets what they wanted without having the compassions of how hard it is to make the money's they spends so carelessly.
not all women think like that, but the girlfriend's feelings are reasonable and valid because Valentine's is only once a year, what if even a simple gift is prepared? that has nothing to do with the price or value of what the partner will give, of course girlfriends also want to experience that somehow they are special on Valentine's Day, but then again, not all woman are just like OP's friend's GF, There's still a lot of women out there who thinks practicality over material things.