an estimated $32 billion in gift cards are being bought right now. the average person spending 174 bucks on these plastic gifts. what you might not know is that these convenient gifts could end up costing you and even the person you're giving it to. >> gift cards have all of the disadvantages of money and none of the advantages. >> reporter: the things not on your wish list from santa -- purchase fees. paying money for money. those affiliated with credit cards instead of stores have an up-front fee just to buy it. >> the people who issue the gift cards to make money. >> reporter: next, dormancy fees. if the recipient doesn't use it after a certain amount of time, the fees start chipping away at the total value. >> card companies start to charge a monthly fee for basically doing nothing except keeping track of the fact you have this card out there.