There are many extra costs of which you should be aware when purchasing gifts. These can add to the price significantly.
Tax
Although a percentage such as 6 or 7 percent might not seem like a lot, it can add up if the item is expensive. If you have exactly $25 to spend on something, then you will need to look for a gift that is a little less to account for tax if you do not want to go over your budget.
Shipping and handling costs
Many people ship their gifts to others who do not live nearby. This cost can be significant. The exact price will depend on a variety of factors such as the service you use, the weight, the size, how quick you need it there, etc. Sometimes this can even be more than the cost of the gift! You will want to carefully consider the size of the item if it will need to be shipped. A lot of people now buy gifts off of the Internet from websites that have a lot of free shipping deals such as www.amazon.com in order to save money.
Wrapping
Of course you want your gift to look nice for your loved one. Wrapping paper can be expensive, however, and you need other supplies like tape. You might want a nice bow to go on it. If you want an easier route with gift bags then this can even be pricier. You can look for sets in which they sell a lot of gift bags together at price savings.
Cards
You can easily spend another three or four dollars or more on a card for the occasion. You will have many beautiful choices, but the price can be significant.
Miscellaneous gifts related to the specific product
You should think about your actual gift to see if there are any special extra costs that will need to be paid. For instance, if you are purchasing someone tickets to a sports game, think about whether you are going to pay for parking as well. If you are splurging to send someone on a cruise, are you going to give them money to pay for tips and excursions? Take all of these extra costs into account to make sure that you can afford the gift in its entirety.
It is important to remember all of the potential extra costs when purchasing gifts. The above costs are some that may be incurred.