OpenAI/Anthropic API bill is running up unexpectedly

Token prices look low until someone builds a loop or sends a huge document with every request. A few checks catch 90% of it.

Try this first

1. 1Set usage limits in the provider dashboard. Both have spend alerts and monthly hard caps at organisation and API-key level, but the granularity differs and changes often, verify in the current Console before relying on it.
2. 2Track which app uses which key. One key per app/team helps you find the spiker.
3. 3Long context (RAG with large documents) is more expensive than people expect. Cache prompts where possible and trim context to what is needed.
4. 4With agents: a loop without a limit can burn a few hundred euros in an hour. Hard-code max iterations or max tokens.
5. 5Calculate dollars and FX, that is where a surprise hides if USD moves.

None of the above fits?

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