[BUG] First observed Dec 10, ur bot is chewing up tokens at >2x the rate of previous days, and I use it daily

[walt93]

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

I use Claude Code exclusively via API tokens, and my normal Claude spend is $25 and this gets me through a full work session of 1-2 days, most times I have some left the next day and have to work - I'd say I've been consistently averaging about $20/day on Claude spend.

Yesterday, I don't know what changed, but your bot chews up $ 25 of tokens in about 2-3 hours of work now, and I haven't changed my work flow. Normally when I hit my limit, we're at negative $ .01 - .35 - now when we bottom out its been more like negative $ 1.00-1.35 - believe you can learn a lot about the impact of your recent changes by observing that metric in aggregate.

Are you trying to get us to switch platforms?

Observe: after paying the $25 (my default), we are at $23.61, so some process spent >$1.00 in tokens when it went negative. THIS is the root issue. WHY did this jump so much higher than before???

What Should Happen?

The tool should not 2X in cost overnight.

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Use the tool

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

Yes, this worked in a previous version

Last Working Version

No response

Claude Code Version

2.0.65 (Claude Code)

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

iTerm2

Additional Information

No response

[github-actions[bot]]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/13552
2. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/13551
3. https://github.com/anthropics/claude-code/issues/13536

This issue will be automatically closed as a duplicate in 3 days.

• If your issue is a duplicate, please close it and 👍 the existing issue instead
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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[walt93]

This bug is not a duplicate of previous cost related bugs. I am reporting a change which occurred SPECIFICALLY between 12/9/25 and 12/10/25.

[grandtheftdisco]

Same here. Hitting a 5 hour limit within 30 minutes without any change in my workflow.

[grandtheftdisco]

⭐ TIPS: I've been browsing similar area:cost issues re: Claude this morning and have gathered a few tips in one place. These don't fix the issue entirely but they've helped cut down my usage in the interim: hope these help someone!

1. direct Claude to not use Task feature, and to use utility tools for common tasks. Add –no-agent flag to your prompt as well (several users reporting that Claude is recruiting subagents without disclosing this to the user)

• ie “ --no-agent for the remainder of our work in this session. DO NOT use the Task tool. Use Grep to find files, Read to check them, and Edit to fix them directly."

2. use /config in the CLI to disable auto-compact, as this is another source of token overconsumption

If anyone else finds ways to reduce token consumption while we wait, feel free to share! 👍