Cost of being twice disheartened when about to start (8)
I believe the answer is:
twopence
'cost of' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to property as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'twice disheartened when about to start' is the wordplay.
'disheartened' suggests removing the centre.
'when about' indicates putting letters inside.
'to start' becomes 'open' (opening is a kind of starting).
'twice' with its middle removed is 'twce'.
'twce' going around 'open' is 'TWOPENCE'.
'being' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for twopence that I've seen before include "bit of history" , "Penny plain, - coloured" , "Low-value coin" , "Not much money" , "very little bread" .)