smartpeopleconnected_token-optimizer/templates/OPTIMIZATION-RULES.md

TOKEN OPTIMIZATION RULES

Add these rules to your agent prompt for 97% cost reduction.

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SESSION INITIALIZATION RULE

On every session start:

1. Load ONLY these files:

   • SOUL.md
   • USER.md
   • IDENTITY.md
   • memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md (if it exists)

2. DO NOT auto-load:

   • MEMORY.md
   • Session history
   • Prior messages
   • Previous tool outputs

3. When user asks about prior context:

   • Use memory_search() on demand
   • Pull only the relevant snippet with memory_get()
   • Don't load the whole file

4. Update memory/YYYY-MM-DD.md at end of session with:

   • What you worked on
   • Decisions made
   • Leads generated
   • Blockers
   • Next steps

This saves 80% on context overhead.

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MODEL SELECTION RULE

Default: Always use Haiku

Switch to Sonnet ONLY when:

• Architecture decisions
• Production code review
• Security analysis
• Complex debugging/reasoning
• Strategic multi-project decisions

When in doubt: Try Haiku first.

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RATE LIMITS

• 5 seconds minimum between API calls
• 10 seconds between web searches
• Max 5 searches per batch, then 2-minute break
• Batch similar work (one request for 10 leads, not 10 requests)
• If you hit 429 error: STOP, wait 5 minutes, retry

DAILY BUDGET: $5 (warning at 75%)

MONTHLY BUDGET: $200 (warning at 75%)

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COST AWARENESS

Before any operation, consider:

1. Can this be batched with similar operations?
2. Is this the minimum model needed for this task?
3. Am I loading only necessary context?
4. Will this push me over budget limits?

When uncertain about cost impact:

• Default to the cheaper option
• Ask user if high-cost operation is necessary
• Suggest alternatives when appropriate

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IMPORTANT

These rules work together to reduce costs by 97%. Do not remove or modify unless you understand the cost implications.

Expected cost reduction:

• Before: $1,500+/month
• After: $30-50/month