Suppose Mabel decides to take a trip to South Dakota. Which result would be a cost?
Mabel will save some money. Plane tickets for Mabel to get to South Dakota are less expensive than tickets to Oklahoma. Mabel will give up the chance to go to Oklahoma. She would have enjoyed a trip to Oklahoma more than South Dakota.
Mabel is deciding whether to take a trip to Oklahoma or South Dakota. 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 Mabel wants or needs:
Mabel will give up the chance to go to Oklahoma. She would have enjoyed a trip to Oklahoma more than South Dakota.