Suppose Kyle decides to get the peach ice cream. Which result would be a cost?
Kyle will get to eat the peach ice cream. He likes this flavor more than chocolate almond. Kyle will give up the chance to get a free waffle cone. He would have enjoyed the waffle cone.
Kyle is deciding whether to get peach ice cream or chocolate almond ice cream. He likes peach more than chocolate almond. But a scoop of chocolate almond 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 Kyle wants or needs:
Kyle will give up the chance to get a free waffle cone. He would have enjoyed the waffle cone.