Ruben Hassid · 12 min read · Gen AI Tools
How to stop hitting Claude usage limits.
Read the original on ruben.substack.com →
The article explains why Claude credits run out quickly—tokens are consumed as conversations grow and the model re-reads prior messages. It offers a free 23-habit guide to save tokens, plus practical workflows like converting files to text, planning in chat before generating documents, and using short prompts to avoid unnecessary consumption, all aimed at reducing how often you hit usage limits.
Key Takeaways
- Token usage increases with longer conversations because Claude re-reads the entire chat history for each message.
- Convert files to plain text before uploading (e.g., PDFs, DOCX, PPTX) and crop images to drastically cut token counts.
- Plan the structure in Chat first, then generate actual files in the appropriate tool to minimize expensive operations.
- Prefer short prompts and use ask-me-questions instead of long prompts to reduce re-reading costs.
- Adopt a few habits consistently (e.g., choose 3 this week) to reduce credit burn and avoid hitting Claude limits.
Excerpt
You’re paying for Claude. But you’re burning through your credits like someone who leaves the lights on in every room. I know because I did the same. For weeks. I’d hit my usage limit by 2 pm, stare at the “you’ve reached your limit” screen, and wonder if the $20 plan was enough. I did switch to the $100 plan… but I kept receiving the same private DM: My team complains, so it’s time to fix it for everyone else. “Ruben, I have a problem with Claude limits… how can I save it?” So I made a list for my…