How to Switch to The Green Life

Going Green Without Chaos

Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Advice Seeker: Dear April Masini,

I would really like to do something about the state of the environment--"go green," if you will. My husband, however, is totally resistant to the whole thing. He says it's time-consuming and expensive, and a bunch of our friends are on his side. I agree that it might take some time and money, but isn't it worth it?

How can I convince everyone?

Sincerely,

Green Girl

April Masini's advice:

Dear Green Girl,

Many people are resistant and/or uncomfortable with change. Therefore, the difficulty in change to going green may not be resistance to actually going green, but just difficulty with change, itself.

Below are some tips to deal with this transition to green:

1. Understand the implications of going green and not going green. If you don't understand the implications educate yourself. Understanding will help you make the decision to go green -- or not -- easier.

2. Know that it's not going to be cheaper. Yes, over the long haul, going green is cheaper, but in the short run, it may cost more. Hybrid cars are generally more expensive than non-hybrid cars, but over the course of several years -- depending on the size of the hybrid you buy -- you will save money in fuel costs.

3. Change your community. I don't mean you should move, but if you surround yourself with other people who are making the same change you are -- whether it's dieting, parenting, dating or going green -- your transition will be supported and easier.

Go Green Today

1. Buy a hybrid car or a fuel efficient car.

2. Carpool

3. Better yet -- bike, walk or take public transit. Good exercise!

4. Don't just recycle -- really recycle. Don't throw things out. Re-use them.

5. Swap unwanted items in your home with someone else -- either your neighborhood or a friend or school. Landfills are not green, and that's where most of your junk winds up.

6. Bathe your little ones together.

7. Don't wash clothes unless they're really dirty.

8. Don't toss leftovers. Re-use them.

9. Landscape your home with plants that don't need constant watering.

10. Have a green party!

Throwing a green party isn't just good for the environment -- it can be great for your social life! This is the best way to show your resistant friends how easy going green can be.

Make your green party a hit with the following tips:

*Instead of using utensils serve finger food! Right there you cut out on plastic utensils that may get thrown away, and you cut down on washing. You can go basic with sandwiches and pizza or exotic with Morroccan finger food!

*Go organic pot luck. This will actually be an educational experience for your guests who are not used to shopping green and they will be providing food and educating themselves and having fun at the same time.

*Party favors should be green -- and I don't necessarily mean the color. Give out reusable shopping bags as party favors that your guests can use at the local market instead of paper and plastic bags.

*Have a speaker as entertainment that will offer up tips and information about going green.

*Have a recycling pollyanna exchange. Ask each guest to bring something from their home that they no longer use to exchange or swap with someone else at the party.

*And don't forget that if you're single, instead of giving someone your number on a piece of paper -- write it on their hand! It's better for the environment!

FOR KIDS:

*Instead of the kid's game Red Light/Green Light, play the same game, only use the words: Recycler/Polluter in exchange for the Red Light and Green Light command.

*And of course, at the end of the party, take all recycling out to the bin!

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April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.