Suppose Isabella decides to take a trip to Mississippi. Which result would be a cost?
Isabella will save some money. Plane tickets for Isabella to get to Mississippi are less expensive than tickets to Montana. Isabella will give up the chance to go to Montana. She would have enjoyed a trip to Montana more than Mississippi.
Isabella is deciding whether to take a trip to Montana or Mississippi. She wants to enjoy her trip. But she is also trying to save money.
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 Isabella wants or needs:
Isabella will give up the chance to go to Montana. She would have enjoyed a trip to Montana more than Mississippi.