---
id: "action-implement-predictive-budgets"
type: "action-item"
source_timestamps: ["00:12:56"]
tags: ["cost-management"]
related: ["concept-predictive-token-budgeting", "framework-token-budget-enforcement", "concept-transcript-compaction"]
action: "Calculate projected token usage and halt execution if budgets are exceeded before making API calls."
outcome: "Prevents runaway agent loops from burning through token budgets unexpectedly."
speakers: ["Nate B. Jones"]
sources: ["s46-anthropic-25b-leak"]
sourceVaultSlug: "s46-anthropic-25b-leak"
originDay: 46
---
# Implement Predictive Token Budgets

## Action
Configure **hard limits** for token usage and **calculate projected usage before** dispatching any API calls to the LLM.

## Outcome
Prevents runaway agent loops from burning through token budgets unexpectedly.

## Implementation Sketch
Follow [[framework-token-budget-enforcement]]:

1. Configure max turns, max tokens, and a compaction threshold.
2. Before each API call, compute projected tokens for the next turn.
3. Compare projection to budget.
4. If over, halt and emit a structured stop reason.
5. Pair with [[concept-transcript-compaction]] so long-running sessions stay within budget without losing audit trail.

## Underlying Concept
[[concept-predictive-token-budgeting]].