Claude Clue #13: Know Your Limits (And Have a Backup Plan)

Here's a fun way to start your work week: burning through 80% of your weekly Claude usage by Tuesday morning (ask me how I know). Heavy research, code development, and testing an AI-assisted workflow all at once will do that. Suddenly Claude was unavailable for my normal day-to-day tasks with four whole work days left until reset. The fix is twofold: first, actually know where you stand. In Claude Code, use the '/usage' command. In Claude.ai or Desktop, check Settings > Usage. Second, have a plan for when you hit the wall.

You've got options. You can pay for overage if the work is urgent, and sometimes that's the right call. But it's also worth exploring alternatives: ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Amazon Q Developer. I keep a few tools in rotation not just for emergencies, but because no single model does everything best. Claude Vision is great, but Claude can't draw like ChatGPT or Gemini. The point is, learning a new tool while you're stuck without your primary one is miserable. Better to take alternatives for a test drive now and have them ready. Or, you know, go for a walk. Spring has finally sprung here in Portland!

Dictated by me, cleaned up by Claude.

HT: Roscoe Rawson