Suppose Natalie decides to make potato soup. Which result would be a cost?
Natalie will save some time. The beef barley soup would have taken longer to make than the potato soup. Natalie will give up the chance to eat the beef barley soup, which would have been tastier than the potato soup.
Natalie is deciding whether to make beef barley soup or potato 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 Natalie wants or needs:
Natalie will give up the chance to eat the beef barley soup, which would have been tastier than the potato soup.