IRENE ANDERSON: I know there are some of you who have not yet completed your shopping and may be completely stumped about what to give your loved ones. Here's some great advice. Make it all about them - Really watching and listening to the person you are buying for and making the gift something that is meaningful for them.

Each of the four Myers Briggs personality styles has preferences. (See my website below for more on MBTI.) Check out the FUN tips below for giving the right gift.

Green Personality Style
Our very knowledgeable Green Personality Style will love any gift that furthers their knowledge and competence. Greens are not into possessions or 'things'. Avoid fluffy slippers, kitschy Christmas sweaters and gaudy jewellery. Knick-knacks will find themselves in the next garage sale. Greens have a unique sense of humour, so tickets to a comedy show would work, as would a trip to an interesting place with lots of history or a magazine subscription to something that interests them, such as science, nature, how to go 'green'. Avoid packaging; it's likely that our Greens are totally serious about going 'Green'.

Gold Personality Style
The core need for our Gold Personality Style is belonging, tradition, and responsibility. Think about practicality and how the gift will help the Gold personality type carry out their responsibilities or honour a family tradition. Do not be extravagant and ensure that the gift is of high quality. They love trusted brand names. Some gift ideas - a planner for the New Year; a new briefcase to replace the old worn one; a labeller (Golds are very organized); or an alarm clock to ensure that the Gold is always on time. Gold personality types will appreciate that you put some thought behind the gift. As long as you are happy they are happy.

Orange Personality Style
Woo Hoo! The Orange Personality Style is motivated by freedom and impact. Don't fence me in! Just like 'Tigger' - Oranges bounce. Orange Personality types are all about the senses. Think about gifts that relate to the senses - perfume, music, artwork, fine wine or chocolate, a soft sweater. Oranges also like variety and fun, so look for something they can use in their leisure time. Plan a spa day and go with them. Make sure there is lots of variety and choice. How about an adventure weekend like white water rafting or horseback riding? Even if you get it wrong, oranges won't care, they get over it easily - they'll just bounce back.

Blue Personality Style
Meaning and Significance - that's the key to a Blue Personality Style's heart. The Blue temperament has a core need for unique identity, meaning and significance. Their talents are as caregivers, facilitators and mentors. They value harmony and cooperation. People of the blue temperament will not really care about material things. You will really impress a blue if you wrote a poem about them, or, knit something special for them (even if it does look a bit wonky). Blues are often found in the Self Help section of the bookstore - careful though, they may already have all of them! Try a wall plaque that has a motivational saying, or a day out that pampers them as blues so often care for others. No matter what you give a blue, it will be treasured and appreciated. Blues are relationship centred; any gift that treasures your relationship with them will be welcomed.

We tend to choose gifts that we think may be meaningful to others - hence the new tradition of 're-gifting'.
NT's love ideas and concepts, a trip to the museum would be most welcome.