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