Suppose Samantha decides to make lentil soup. Which result would be a cost?
The lentil soup will be tastier than the split pea soup would have been. Samantha will spend more time making the lentil soup than she would have spent making the split pea soup.
Samantha is deciding whether to make lentil soup or split pea 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 Samantha wants or needs:
Samantha will spend more time making the lentil soup than she would have spent making the split pea soup.