Budgets

Per-agent monthly USD cap.

Setting it

Two places:

  • Right-click the agent → Budget.
  • Agent → Profile → monthly_usd field.

Set a number (e.g. 20). Save. The cap applies for the current calendar month.

What happens at the limit

When the agent's month-to-date cost crosses the cap:

  1. Cubicle marks the agent over_until (the start of next month).
  2. New send calls are blocked. The composer shows "Over budget — increase the cap or wait until next cycle".
  3. In-flight messages finish; nothing already running is killed.

Resetting

The cap automatically clears at the start of the next calendar month. The over_until flag drops; sending works again.

You can also raise the cap manually any time — the block lifts as soon as the new cap is above the month-to-date cost.

Where to watch

The agent's chat sidebar shows the budget bar near the top. Color flips amber as you near the cap, red after.

For raw token numbers, see Token usage.

Tip

Set caps on agents that run scheduled work or expensive tools — those rack up cost without you watching. Leave caps off the agent you actively chat with.