What is Opportunity Cost? Applied to My Daily Life[Eng-Spn]

in TradFi4 days ago

Hello everyone in the Tradfi community! Today I'm back again to share my second post, and this time I want to talk about my experience researching the concept of Opportunity Cost. I've gathered information from the following link and explored various definitions online to gain different perspectives. However, they all arrived at the same point:

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Opportunity Cost is the value of what you forgo by choosing one option over another. Every time you make a decision, whether it's investing money, using your time, or choosing a project, you give up other alternatives. That "lost benefit" is what we know as Opportunity Cost.

I'm going to try to explain this definition in a very personal way, using something familiar to me.

For months I've had a project in mind: to buy a computer so I can play Hive games, write my posts more comfortably, and do my schoolwork. I have two options:

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Image by Monoar Rahman Rony from Pixabay

  1. Power Down, remove my HP, and buy the computer.

  2. Take out a loan, go into debt, and buy the computer.

If I choose the first option, I'll buy the computer without going into debt, but I'll lose my curation rewards and my influence on the platform will decrease.

If I choose the second option, I'll have to pay interest and repay the loan, but I'll keep my HP and my influence on Hive.

Scenario 1: The Power Down (Sacrificing my HP and therefore my Influence; it's small, but it means a lot to me)

If I decide to Power Down, the cost of the computer isn't just its dollar price. My true opportunity cost includes:

  • Curating Rewards: The votes I forgo generating daily.

  • Voting Power: The weight of my support for other authors.

  • Compound Growth: The HP I forgo accumulating long-term due to network interest.

I buy the computer with "my own money," but "pay" with the stagnation of my account.

Scenario 2: The Loan

If I take out a loan, I keep my HP intact and continue growing, but I generate a new opportunity cost:

  • Interest: The extra money I pay the lender is money I could have invested in more Hive or other needs. The money from my future posts will no longer be for me, but will go toward paying off the debt.

I maintain my power on the platform, but "pay" with my financial freedom in the coming months.

Although it may seem simple to make these decisions, the opportunity cost can be calculated mathematically. Let's look at an example in a simple way, the way I understood it:

I don't fully understand the formula yet, but from what I understand, I think it's like this:

Opportunity Cost = RMPIC − RICP

where:
RMPIC = Return on the most profitable investment
RICP = Return on the chosen investment

Imagine you have $1000 saved and two options:

  • Option A: Invest in stocks that give you a profit of $120 per year.

  • Option B: Use them to upgrade your computer, generating a savings/profit of $80 per year.

If you choose Option B, your calculation would be:
$120 (what you would have earned in A) - $80 (what you earn in B) = $40.

Your opportunity cost is $40. You are losing that amount by not choosing to invest in stocks.

And the interesting thing is that opportunity cost also applies to everyday situations. It's not all about money, although I love talking about that. It can also involve time, energy, or health. It's not just about what you gain, but what you sacrifice. What's valuable to you, like free time, might not be as valuable to someone else.

Let's take an example that many of us have experienced. My friends and I decided to study at Valentina's house. However, one thing led to another, and instead of focusing on our assignments, we started listening to music and dancing. Before we knew it, we had forgotten the super important assignment we had due on Monday.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ff6ccfvIHyE?si=Sa6h7bJzs_FnKYn5

At that moment, we decided that enjoying the music and our dancing 🥳🎉 was the most important thing, putting responsibility aside 😱.

What was our opportunity cost?

We missed the chance to get a good grade in the subject, which would have helped us raise our average. All because my friends convinced me to put work aside for a bit of fun. 😌

So, that's how I finished my second finance class in the Tradfi Community. Remember, I'm not an expert; I'm just learning. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, feel free to leave them, and I'll be happy to answer them. Thanks for reading, see you in a new post, bye!

Tradfi Community thumbnail, edited in Gemini and Paint.
I used Google Translate because I speak Spanish.

Español

Hola chicos de la comunidad de Tradfi Hoy estoy aquí nuevamente para compartir mi segundo post y, en esta ocasión, quiero hablarles sobre mi experiencia investigando el concepto de Costo de Oportunidad. He recopilado información en el siguiente enlace y he explorado diversas definiciones en la web para tener diferentes perspectivas. Sin embargo, todas llegaron al mismo punto:

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El Costo de Oportunidad es al valor de lo que dejas de ganar al elegir una opción sobre otra. Cada vez que tomas una decisión, ya sea invertir dinero, usar tu tiempo o elegir un proyecto, renuncias a otras alternativas. Ese "beneficio perdido" es lo que conocemos como Costo de Oportunidad.

Voy a tratar de explicar esta definición de una forma muy personal y de la forma que se me hace más fácil, con un hecho familiar para mí.

Desde hace meses tengo un proyecto en mente: Comprarme una computadora para poder jugar los juegos de Hive, realizar mis posts de manera más cómoda y realizar mis deberes escolares. Para ello tengo dos opciones:

image.png
Image by Monoar Rahman Rony from Pixabay

  1. Hacer un Power Down, retirar mi HP y comprar la computadora.
  2. Pedir un préstamo, endeudarme y adquirir la computadora.

Si elijo la primera opción, compraré la computadora sin endeudarme, pero perderé las recompensas por curación y mi influencia en la plataforma disminuirá.

Si opto por la segunda opción, tendré que pagar intereses y cumplir con el préstamo, pero mantendré mi HP y mi influencia en Hive.

Escenario 1: El Power Down (Sacrificando mi HP y por lo tanto mi Influencia, es poca pero para mí significa mucho)

Si decido hacer Power Down, el costo de la computadora no es solo su precio en dólares. Mi coste de oportunidad real incluye:

  • Recompensas de curación: Los votos que dejo de generar diariamente.
  • Influencia (Voting Power): El peso de mi apoyo a otros autores.
  • Crecimiento compuesto: El HP que dejo de acumular a largo plazo por el interés de la red.

Compro la computadora con "mi propio dinero", pero "pago" con el estancamiento de mi cuenta.

Escenario 2: El Préstamo

Si pido un préstamo, mantengo mi HP intacto y sigo creciendo, pero genero un nuevo coste de oportunidad:

  • Intereses: El dinero extra que pago al prestamista es dinero que podría haber invertido en más Hive o en otras necesidades. El dinero de mis futuros posts ya no será para mí, sino para pagar la deuda.

Mantengo mi poder en la plataforma, pero "pago" con mi libertad financiera en los próximos meses.

Aunque pueda parecer sencillo tomar estas decisiones, se puede calcular el coste de oportunidad de manera matemática. Veamos un ejemplo de una manera fácil y de la forma que lo pude entender:

Aún no entiendo del todo la fórmula pero según lo que entendí creo, es así

Costo de oportunidad=RMPIC−RICP

dónde:
RMPIC=Retorno de la inversión más rentable
RICP=Retorno de la inversión elegida para perseguir

Imagina que tienes $1000 ahorrados y dos opciones:

  • Opción A: Invertir en acciones que te dan un beneficio de $120 al año.
  • Opción B: Usarlos para mejorar tu computadora, generando un ahorro/ganancia de $80 al año.

Si eliges la Opción B, tu cálculo sería:
$120 (lo que habrías ganado en A) - 80 (lo que ganas en B) = 40.

Tu costo de oportunidad es de $40. Estás perdiendo esa cantidad por no haber elegido la inversión en acciones.

Y lo interesante es que el costo de oportunidad también se aplica a situaciones cotidianas. No todo tiene que ver con dinero, aunque me encanta hablar de eso. También puede involucrar tiempo, energía o salud. No se trata solo de lo que ganas, sino de lo que sacrificas. Lo que es valioso para ti, como el tiempo libre, puede no serlo tanto para otra persona.

Pongamos un ejemplo que a muchas nos ha pasado. Mis amigas y yo decidimos estudiar en casa de Valentina. Sin embargo, una cosa llevó a la otra y, en lugar de concentrarnos en nuestras tareas, comenzamos a escuchar música y a bailar. Antes de darnos cuenta, habíamos olvidado el trabajo súper importante que teníamos que entregar el lunes.

https://youtube.com/shorts/Ff6ccfvIHyE?si=Sa6h7bJzs_FnKYn5

En ese momento, decidimos que disfrutar de la música y nuestro baile 🥳🎉 era lo más importante, dejando de lado la responsabilidad 😱.

¿Cuál fue nuestro costo de oportunidad?

Perdimos la oportunidad de obtener una buena nota en la materia, lo que nos habría ayudado a aumentar nuestro promedio. Todo esto porque mis amigas me convencieron de dejar el trabajo a un lado por un rato de diversión. 😌

Así he terminado mi segunda clase de finanzas en la Comunidad de Tradfi, recuerda que no soy experta solo estoy aprendiendo, si tienes algún duda, comentario o sugerencia me los puedes dejar y estaré feliz de responderte. Gracias por leerme, nos vemos en un nuevo post, chao.

Miniatura de La Comunidad de Tradfi y editada en Gémini y Paint
He utilizado Google Traductor porque hablo español

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Can i have your answer on what scenario did you choose to use in buying the computer? Sorry if i missed it

I don't understand the question; I guess my translator isn't helping me. I don't understand what "scenario" means in finance.

Scenario 1: The Power Down (Sacrificing my HP and therefore my Influence; it's small, but it means a lot to me

Scenario 2: The Loan

These scenarios based on your blog.

Are you talking about my economic situation? My surroundings? Could you give me an example?

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I don't work, I just study and write on Hive; I don't have any other source of income. Is that what you mean? Hehe, that's my financial situation. I depend on my parents and I just study.

No no, there is no personal things that i asked on my question, you just stated in your blog that you will buy a new computer based on:

  • scenario 1: to power down and sell the hive tokens to buy the computer

  • scenario 2: taking a loan.

I just asked which one you chose between the two.

Oh, sorry, I'm new to this and sometimes my translator doesn't help me understand well. Thank you.

Ohh. Ok. Got it.

Oh, sorry, I'm new to this and sometimes my translator doesn't help me understand well. Thank you.

I haven't chosen yet, because the moment hasn't arrived.

I haven't chosen yet, because the moment hasn't arrived.

If you are going to give an example, better try to give ones that you can conclude or experienced maybe, just saying. Thanks for the response. :)

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Hey @angeluxx Hey @angeluxx, I find your point of view very interesting, especially the fact that we can understand the consequences of choosing not to take other options. I understood it perfectly.
Your YouTube video made me laugh a lot; I think it was the example I understood best. I hope you learned your lesson.
Jjjaaaa muy bueno

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Very good explanation, dear friend @angeluxx. It is very true when you say that opportunity cost does not only apply to the financial world, but can also be applied to many areas of life.

Here's a personal example.
I used to work as a healthcare professional in my country, and unfortunately I had to quit because my salary wasn't even enough to pay for two days of transportation to work. In other words, I was no longer working to earn a benefit, but rather it was costing me to get to my workplace because I had to find money elsewhere to pay for my transportation.

I had to weigh up whether to continue working or resign, and although I loved my job, I had to resign because I was no longer working to get paid, but was paying to work.

The cost was higher than the opportunity.

I understand your opportunity cost. In the end, your resignation benefits you. Because what you lost wasn't that much. You actually gain from your decision. Right?

Of course, my friend, that's right, peace of mind, health, and my dignity are priceless.

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That's an excellent comment, my friend. It was a good decision and an invaluable opportunity cost. Greetings from this gentleman who admires your position!
LADY

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You have to weigh up all the options you have so you don't lose out on whatever decision you make. The goal is always to be satisfied with your choice, without experiencing losses that make you feel bad.

Hay que poner en una balanza las opciones que uno tiene para no perder con lo que se decida. Se busca siempre es estar conforme con lo que se elige,sin tener perdidas que te hagan sentir mal.

Yes, the best thing is always to look for the best option and the one that brings the most benefit, to know how to choose, thank you
!LADY

In finance, there's a formula to calculate the impact of our decisions. It's super cool. It's like calculating what would have happened if you'd chosen a different option. I didn't know that, and you explain it very Interesting, I understand. Super @angeluxx 👌

Haha, yeah, a formula that calculates the consequences of what you missed out on in the past! 😁 Or maybe it sees your future, what you would have achieved. Hehe, it depends on how you see it, I have no idea but I think that's how it is 🤪

It's a good explanation, very simple and easy to understand. This information is easy to grasp. Congratulations on your economics classes, you're doing very well, dear. Greetings from yours truly. Keep it up!
!LADY


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