With Halloween just a week away, are you still looking for cheap and easy Halloween costumes, especially homemade Halloween costume ideas?  According to a recent survey by the National Retail Federation, the typical American shopper will spend about $10 less this Halloween compared to last year. The same survey indicates that more than 16 percent of the respondents will trim costs by making Halloween costumes rather than purchasing them.  Ask Coupon Sherpa, an online forum for money saving tips, shows how to have fun without breaking the bank with its article “50 Cheap & Easy Halloween Costumes for Adults & Children.”

The feature, which is posted on the Ask Coupon Sherpa blog, offers a wide array of Halloween costume recommendations.

Here are just some of the homemade Halloween costume ideas:

Progressive Insurance’s Flo:  All you need is a white shirt, white apron, name tag and a headband and you’re set to cut insurance deals for fellow party goers.

Job Seeker:  Whether you’re unemployed or gainfully employed, this costume is a cinch. Dress in your favorite suit, grab a suitcase and resume and you’re set to go. Those truly unemployed might want to stock the briefcase with real resumes, just in case that perfect job prospect shows up at the party.

Backwards Man:  This simple concept was popular in the 1980s  and is due for a revival. Simply put your clothes on backwards, pad your front to give yourself some “back” and voila, you’re ready.

Gangster:  Some may prefer the under-dressed Sopranos look, but for a traditional gangster you’ll need dress pants, a vest, fedora and toy machine gun. Considering the zero-tolerance policies at most American schools, children may prefer to nix the gun for an empty violin case.

Pile of Laundry:  The perfect costume for college students! Simply pin clothes onto an old outfit or, for a more complex costume, cut the bottom out of an old laundry basket, fill it with clothes and wear it around your waist. A hat made from a washed-out Clorox bottle adds a jaunty touch. Don’t forget to toss in a few used fabric-softener sheets.

Work of Art:  This couldn’t be easier: Hang a large picture frame around your neck. If you want to make it complicated, consider dressing up as a specific work of art, such as the Mona Lisa or a Van Gogh self-portrait.

50 Cents:  Don’t be surprised if you’re not the only rap fan to tape two quarters to your chest.

Web site:  Glasses wearers can turn themselves into a Web site by draping fake spider webs all over those eyepieces.

The Nerd:  Some can go from work to Halloween parties without a change of clothes, but for non-nerds, pair high-water pants, a short-sleeved dress shirt buttoned to the top with pens in the pocket and appropriate ink stains. Take the nose and mustache off a set of Groucho glasses and you’ve completed the look.

The article even includes a recipe for fake blood (which includes Karo syrup and red food coloring among other ingredients) and instructions to create fake wounds.

Find more of the “50 Cheap and Easy Halloween Costumes” ideas on Ask Coupon Sherpa.

Do you own an iPhone or iPod Touch?  You can save even more money with the Coupon Sherpa iPhone application. It allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to access in-store coupons from their mobile device and present that coupon on their mobile device to the cashiers at participating merchants. This is great if you’re like me…often forgetting to bring along your coupons.