These days most of us are looking for ways to save both money and resources. It is becoming more clear that we all need to do our part to make wise decisions about what we consume.

While I am not an expert in “green living,” I think simply making common-sense steps towards being frugal and wasting less around my own home is a great way to start! By making small changes, using less, saving more and thinking about clever ways to use what we already have, we can be good stewards of our resources.

SunChips is generously sponsoring a $100 giveaway to one lucky reader of The Inspired Room simply for sharing YOUR green living tips! WOO HOO! I think we could all use an extra $100, so check out my tips below and then offer one of your own in the comments! One lucky commenter will win $100! {GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED}

Here are a few frugal (& green!) tips:

• Visit a local Rebuilding Center to find great things you can “re-use” to remodel your home: light fixtures, sinks, cabinets, tubs and more! Old sinks can be refinished and look good as new!

• Salvage existing kitchen cabinet boxes with a fresh coat of paint and install new cabinet doors rather than starting over with all new cabinets. I did this in my last kitchen by installing both glass and regular cabinets and new drawers into existing cabinet bases.

• Rather than buying new, re-fresh existing furniture or thrift store finds with paint or slipcovers.

• Use natural elements (like fruit, plants, moss, bamboo, twigs, or nests) for decorating your home (see more ideas in this post Creative Ideas for Decorating Naturally).

• Share and find cool stuff on Freecycle, Craigslist, or your local Goodwill or thrift store. While I was moving I donated tons of stuff that someone else can repurpose at their house!

• Downsize to or remodel a “not so big house” in order to save money, energy and make better use of the space you already have (I love this concept as I have just downsized to my own “not so big house”).

• Consider rain chains and barrels instead of downspouts to reduce your water consumption by harvesting your own rain water in style! {I just learned about this tip last week on my Gig Harbor Drive By!} Use the collected rain water for the lawn, washing the dog, laundry or watering plants!

• Use hardy native plants in your landscapes to save water and maintenance — in the northwest that means use lots of moss, ferns, rhododendrons and azaleas!

• Home composting is a small step you can take to make your community greener.  It is surprisingly straightforward and it benefits both you and the environment. The sponsor of our $100 giveaway today, SunChips, recognized these benefits and has introduced new packaging that is made of 33% renewable materials.  This may seem like a small change, but in 2010, they plan on having every SunChips bag made 100% compostable.  Learn how to create your own hot, active compost here and take your small step.

What small “green” steps or changes have you made around your home?

Share a green living tip here this week and you’ll be entered to win something very green… $100!

PS. My friend Sandy at Reluctant Entertainer also has a giveaway today, so after you share your green tip here, head on over and check out her giveaway too!

Top photo: HGTV…check out their 2009 GREEN HOME

THE $100 GIVEAWAY CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. CONTEST ENDED APRIL 18 9PM PST