Once a year, there is a dedicated day to putting on a costume and having some fun. The nature of costumes, however, has various appeals year round. Looking at your Halloween costume as more than a one-time-use expenditure can lead to a host of opportunities with a far longer reach than just a night of trick or treating. Here are just a few things you can do to keep that costume from being forgotten about in the back of a junk closet.

1. Auction it on eBay

Yeah, the same thing you do with everything else you don't need anymore also applies to your gently used Halloween costume. From cosplayers to war reenactors there is always a special interest group that would love to get their hands on a good discounted costume. Obviously, certain costumes have a better second-hand value than others. Timeless classics and topically trending are generally going to be most sought-out. Keep this in mind as you choose your costume. Anticipate what will get you the best return, and who knows, you might just end up getting that costume for free.

2. Do a Costume Mash-up

There is two ways of going about this: Think ahead and choose a costume this year and next year that can be mixed to form an original and clever creation-- or, if you're not patient enough to wait three years for a joke, buy two costumes this year that add up to more than the sum of their parts. You get your immediate joke payoff and a pair of complete costumes just waiting to be worn in the future. It saves money and it opens the doors for such characters as Sherlock Homer Simpson or an original team up of movie slashers named Jason Krueger!

3. Give it to a good cause

Kids just feel stronger with a Batman symbol on their chest and a cape on their back. Take your child's slightly used Halloween costume to a children's hospital and pass that sense of power on to a child who will greatly appreciate it and put it to good use. This small psychological advantage can be priceless to a fighting kid. Donate to hospitals or other organizations’ Halloween Costume drives in your area such as Jersey Cares, Interfaith Social Services or Chapman Partnership.

4. Use it to volunteer

Along the same lines, if you have a terrific looking Superman, Power Rangers, Wonder Woman or another strong costume, donate your time visiting ailing children. Watch the excitement in their eyes as their favorite hero shows up at their door. Contact local organizations that arrange these visits to find out more about how you can help. This is a great year-round use for a costume that you thought had already seen its best day.

5. Cosplay at Comic-Con

Show off your inner nerd when you wear your Halloween costume to a comic book convention or cosplay event. Every year thousands of people attend these diverse and eccentric functions, and it is a perfect opportunity to break out that awesome Jon Snow or Deadpool costume one more time. Larger comic-cons will typically have contests, giveaways and other perks for those in costumes. Turn what would have been a piece of recycling into a day full of free swag and fanfare from the other attendees.

6. Attempt to take over the world as a costumed supervillain

Just kidding! World domination is a dirty, complicated and globally illegal affair... I'd stay far away from it.

7. Trade costumes with a friend

Make a day of costume shopping with your best friend and buy outfits you both love, so that next year you can just trade and have a full costume that's totally you and already paid for. Try to avoid similar-looking costumes to guarantee a contrast between the two years. For example, two Ghostbusters or Ninja Turtle costumes does not really offer the appearance of a new look, as you are essentially just modifying the last one. Play this the right way, and you and your buddy have a personal buy one get one free costume deal!

8. Host a themed costume party for your friends

Your popular costume can turn you into the host with the most. A Jack Sparrow or Stranger Things' Eleven costume can be a springboard to a movie marathon where all your friends join you in costumed celebration. Find officially licensed party decorations from your chosen property and create an immersive atmosphere that no one will ever forget. Binge-watching is far less of a guilty pleasure when you have company!

9. Wear it to the next sporting event

Go to any sporting event and you are bound to see at least one person in a loud and eye-catching costume. If you find yourself in the crowd applauding these self-appointed cheerleaders, now you can become one. Find a way to turn that Halloween costume into something ballfield relevant and you are well on your way to Diamond Vision stardom! Spice up an existing character with your team's gear and logo, or be completely original and create your own unbeatable mascot. With a little ingenuity and bravado, you'll be ready for the big leagues.

10. Be a video prankster

If you have a flair for the maniacal, you can use that terrifying Halloween costume as the catalyst for a prank video that will live on for the ages. Invite over your most gullible friend, or the one with the funniest scream, and walk them into a scare that they will never see coming. Wait a few months after Halloween for them to really let their guard down, and then rock them with a jump-scare when it's least expected. Put some serious thought and production value into your video and see if you can make your epic prank go viral.

11. Turn it into a sexy good time

Put a little zing in your bedroom routine with a bit of costume roleplay. Needless to say, if this is your intent, it should be at the front of your mind when costume buying. Jabba the Hutt or Pennywise the Clown is probably not the outfit you want to that year-- or maybe it is. Different strokes for different folks, you know. But whatever you and your partner are into, there is a costume out there that can add a fun and exciting new level to your time together.

12. Have make-believe time with your younger cousins or nieces and nephews

Is your niece and nephew coming over to visit and you have no idea how to spend that time? Take out that Halloween costume and invite them to put your character into whatever situation they want. They will think it's hilarious, and you'll get a kick out of ad-libbing a scene where Dracula runs a pet store. They will be on the floor laughing when, without warning, you appear wearing a full and outlandish costume just for them. It's a quick, easy and fun fast track to becoming the cool aunt or uncle.

13. Become part of a costume swap

A new and green way of saving money is to join an organized costume swap. Depending on the size of the group, you will have a great selection and variety of costumes and accessories to choose from, while at the same time cutting down on Halloween waste. If there is not a costume swap near you, organize one with members of your neighborhood and begin a tradition of annual recycling that everyone will love. It's a fun and festive way to get a better costume and help the environment!

Think outside the box and you will be surprised with all the non-candy related ways that your Halloween costume can pay off in dividends. Buy your Halloween costumes early, shop smart, and watch your enjoyment and Halloween dollars stretch far beyond the end of October.