Suppose Dana decides to make egg drop soup. Which result would be a cost?
The egg drop soup will be tastier than the chicken soup would have been. Dana will spend more time making the egg drop soup than she would have spent making the chicken soup.
Dana is deciding whether to make egg drop soup or chicken soup for dinner. She wants dinner to be as tasty as possible. But she is also hungry and wants to eat soon.
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 Dana wants or needs:
Dana will spend more time making the egg drop soup than she would have spent making the chicken soup.