How's your holiday shopping going? Yet to begin, finished, somewhere in the middle? With Christmas less than a week away, it's time for last-minute shoppers to wrap it up.

Fortunately for Royal Oak residents, valuable time need not be wasted in shopping malls and parking lots as many unique retail shops are within walking distance of one another. What's more, those unique shops can serve the gift-giving needs of everyone in your family at affordable prices. Indeed, with a little creativity and a couple of blocks of walking, the perfect gifts for any individual can be bought in downtown Royal Oak just days before Christmas without breaking the bank.

Mothers appreciate custom consideration, relaxation

Buying gifts for mothers can be thought-provoking: They tend to want something personalized, but also functional. They tend to deal with more stress than other family members when it comes to day-to-day life. Therefore, it makes sense to treat mothers to a custom set of gifts intended to relax and invigorate.

In just a few minutes of store-hopping, you can put together your own stress-relief package just for Mom. Start at Goldfish Tea, 117 W. Fourth St., where you can pick up a few relaxation consumables: adorable miniature cookies and a few sample packets of tea or organic coffee.

Now, head down to Center Street, follow the fence and step in at Center Street Salon, 510 S. Center St., one of Royal Oak's best-known independent salons. Buy the timeless gift of a manicure gift certificate, then put it, the tea and cookies in a gift bag with tissue paper and write a personal note on a Christmas card. Mom is sure to appreciate your gift after the stress of the holidays.

Dads sure to dig foodstuffs during the holidays

Fathers can be more difficult to buy for than mothers. Coupons from salons likely won't help many fathers relax. However, men do appreciate the chance to relax, perhaps with a cold beer when watching television or by enjoying a great bottle of wine with delicious food.

Royal Oak's own wine and beer cellar, Cloverleaf Acquisition, 711 S. Main St., offers a variety of gift package options for Dad that will please not only him, but the rest of the family as well. For $30, you can select from any number of high-quality spirits. Then head down the street to Holiday Market, 1203 S. Main St.,  to select from any number of high-quality cheeses with crackers — an affordable, tasteful package personalized for Dad's own tastes.  

Or, for $69, Cloverleaf offers a premade gift package for Mom and Dad — a bargain that includes multiple bottles of wine and assorted snacks. If Mom and Dad don't imbibe, it's just as easy to head down The Bean & Leaf Cafe, 106 S. Main St., and buy a pound of organic coffee with a French press or stylized mug — or even replace mom's manicure with a tasteful teapot.

Young women among the easiest to shop for

One of the easiest gifts to put together is for girls; no matter what age, they appreciate purses and lip glosses. Head to Pitaya, 211 S. Main St., to purchase a few clutches for around $20, then pick up a lip balm or gloss at the Douglas J. Aveda Institute, 409 S. Center St. Put a different color in each of the clutches and give to casual girlfriends, sisters or female friends.

Brothers think it's the thought that counts

Brothers are easily pleased, but it is less easy to make their gifts individualized. This is where Barnes & Noble, 500 S. Main St., or Gamestop, 450 S. Main St., become useful resources – right next door to one another. If the brother plays video games frequently, it's easy to find out which console he prefers and pick out a recommended title released this year or buy a gift certificate.

For brothers who are not the gaming type, Barnes & Noble offers books and magazines that can make great packages. Pick up a variety of magazines about sports, cars or other men's interests and make a clever package out of them. If your brother is a hobbyist, visit the robust collectibles section,; if he's an illustrated fiction fan, check out the comics.

Movie night a safe bet for young children

All kids love movie nights, so why not take some of the legwork out of it for their parents? Barnes & Noble offers a multitude of DVDs from across many different genres, so a gift card there will ensure smiling faces on weekend nights. Combine that with a gift certificate to Cold Stone Creamery, 420 S. Main St., and the young members of your family will think you're giving them a second birthday party — while their parents will be silently singing your praises.