Claude Code users regularly report $500–2,000/month in API costs. The $20 Pro plan hits rate limits mid-session. The $100 Max plan runs out faster than expected. Something feels off.
It's not the pricing — it's the habits. There are 7 specific behaviors that silently burn tokens on every request, and fixing them doesn't slow you down at all. Teams that fix them report 40–85% reductions without writing less code or asking fewer questions.
Here's exactly what wastes tokens and what to do about it.
First: how Claude Code actually charges you
Understanding the cost structure prevents surprises.
