system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: the financial term "total cost of ownership" as opposed to say, buying and running costs

Financial experts of reddit: I think I understand the usefulness of TCO (total cost of ownership) but I'm at a loss when asked to explain it. Most people I know prefer buying or running costs as for appliances but I don't see how to persuade them that TCO will give a better overall picture. Or doesn't it?
gpt
well...

Theres several things you have to take in to account. 

It depends if its something you plan to trow away or resell after you´re done using, what it consumes while operating, if you have to get additional services for it. 

Lets say a car

You buy a car for 25,000 dollars, 

So you fill the tank (40 bucks) once a week, thats $2040 a year.   
Insurance thats around 1000 a year,  
mechanical service/oil changes/wheel change around another 500 a year. 

you keep it for 5 years so its 3540 x5 thats 17700 dollars. but you sell the car on for 10,000 dollars, 

So total cost of ownership over the 5 years was the price of the car plus the price of running costs with the resale price deducted. 

So over 5 years the car costed you (25000 + 17700) - 10000, 

total cost of ownership was 32700. 

but lets say a TV, 

You get a 37" TV for 400 bucks, the TV consumes 50 bucks of electricity a year, you keep the TV for 4 years, and then sell it for 150 bucks, 

TV cost + Running cost - sale price. 
(400 + 200) - 150, the total cost of owning that TV was 450 bucks.