I dont remember them being this expensive last year (and I'm talking about int he main shops lol)

Since a few months there's a new system implemented that makes prices for items go up if they get bought from the Main Shops often. Wrapping Paper and Snowballs currently are high in demand and so the price goes up. C:

Ah. I see. Well thank you ^w^

There's also a lot more people working for the achievements (for sending 100 gifts and 50 snowballs :))