Suppose Ernest decides to get the cake batter ice cream. Which result would be a cost?
Ernest will give up the chance to eat the praline pecan ice cream. He likes this flavor more than cake batter. Ernest will get a free waffle cone. He will enjoy the waffle cone.
Ernest is deciding whether to get praline pecan ice cream or cake batter ice cream. He likes praline pecan more than cake batter. But a scoop of cake batter ice cream comes with a free waffle cone.
Before you decide to do something, it is often helpful to list costs and benefits.
Costs are what you give up or spend when you decide to do something. Costs involve giving up things that you want or need.
Benefits are what you gain or save when you decide to do something. Benefits involve gaining something that you want or need.
This result is a cost. It involves giving up or spending something that Ernest wants or needs:
Ernest will give up the chance to eat the praline pecan ice cream. He likes this flavor more than cake batter.