How do I install the Token Saver skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add chidekina/token-saver in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Token Saver safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Token Saver?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Token Saver free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Token Saver?

chidekina (@chidekina) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Token Saver by chidekina — Agent Skill

Name: Token Saver
Author: chidekina

Token Saver

Token optimization guide for Claude Code. This skill should be used when the user wants to reduce API costs, learn model routing strategies, or understand how to use free/cheaper tools (Ollama, Haiku) instead of burning expensive Claude tokens on routine tasks. Triggers on: save tokens, reduce costs, token tips, cheap claude, model routing, ollama setup, token optimization.

chidekina e1bb300 3.5 KB Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Token Saver — Claude Code Cost Optimization

Overview

A routing and habits guide to cut Claude API costs. The core idea: match the tool to the task — use free/cheap tools for simple work, and reserve expensive models for genuinely hard problems.

Quick Reference

FREE    → Ollama  (commits, summaries, translations, explanations)
CHEAP   → Haiku   (quick lookups, simple one-liners)
DEFAULT → Sonnet  (daily coding, features, bugs)
DEEP    → Opus    (architecture, security, complex refactors only)

Tier 0 — Ollama (FREE, runs locally)

Install once, zero API cost forever.

Setup:

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh
ollama pull llama3.2:3b

Always route these to Ollama:

Task	Command
Commit message	`ollama run llama3.2:3b "write a conventional commit for: <diff>"`
Summarize text	`ollama run llama3.2:3b "summarize: <text>"`
Translate PT↔EN	`ollama run llama3.2:3b "translate to english: <text>"`
Explain a function	`ollama run llama3.2:3b "explain this code: <snippet>"`
PR description	`ollama run llama3.2:3b "write a PR description for: <summary>"`
Classify text	`ollama run llama3.2:3b "classify as bug/feature/chore: <text>"`

Rule: No deep reasoning needed + short output = Ollama.

Tier 1 — Haiku (Cheapest Claude)

/model claude-haiku-4-5-20251001

Good for: Simple lookups, yes/no questions, short edits with clear instructions, quick one-liners.

Tier 2 — Sonnet (Default)

/model claude-sonnet-4-6

Good for: Feature implementation, bug fixes, code reviews, most daily coding tasks. Stay here unless stuck.

Tier 3 — Opus (Use Sparingly)

/model claude-opus-4-6

Good for: System architecture, security audits, complex multi-system refactors. Not for: Anything Sonnet handles on the first try.

Read Code Surgically

Every line loaded into context costs tokens.

Instead of	Do this
"Read this file and find the auth logic"	"Find the `authenticate` function in `auth.service.ts`"
"Look at the whole component"	"Show me just the `useEffect` hooks in `Dashboard.tsx`"
Opening a 500-line file	Grep for the symbol first, then read only that block

Scope Requests Tightly

Bundling tasks inflates both input and output tokens.

Instead of: "Fix this bug, refactor the function, add tests, and update the docs" Do: Fix the bug → commit → then ask for the next thing separately.

Stop Retry Loops Early

Re-running the same failing prompt 5 times multiplies cost with no gain.

Stop after 2 failed attempts
Rethink the approach or ask a more specific question
A different angle costs fewer tokens than brute-forcing the same one

Biggest Wins (in order)

Move commits/translations/summaries to Ollama — these are 100% free
Stay on Sonnet — don't upgrade to Opus by default
Read functions, not files — surgical reads cut context size dramatically
One task per prompt — smaller prompts, smaller responses

---name: token-saverdescription: Token optimization guide for Claude Code. This skill should be used when the user wants to reduce API costs, learn model routing strategies, or understand how to use free/cheaper tools (Ollama, Haiku) instead of burning expensive Claude tokens on routine tasks. Triggers on: save tokens, reduce costs, token tips, cheap claude, model routing, ollama setup, token optimization.---# Token Saver — Claude Code Cost Optimization## OverviewA routing and habits guide to cut Claude API costs. The core idea: match the tool to the task — use free/cheap tools for simple work, and reserve expensive models for genuinely hard problems.---## Quick Reference```FREE → Ollama (commits, summaries, translations, explanations)CHEAP → Haiku (quick lookups, simple one-liners)DEFAULT → Sonnet (daily coding, features, bugs)DEEP → Opus (architecture, security, complex refactors only)```---## Tier 0 — Ollama (FREE, runs locally)Install once, zero API cost forever.**Setup:**```bashcurl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | shollama pull llama3.2:3b```**Always route these to Ollama:**| Task | Command ||------|---------|| Commit message | `ollama run llama3.2:3b "write a conventional commit for: <diff>"` || Summarize text | `ollama run llama3.2:3b "summarize: <text>"` || Translate PT↔EN | `ollama run llama3.2:3b "translate to english: <text>"` || Explain a function | `ollama run llama3.2:3b "explain this code: <snippet>"` || PR description | `ollama run llama3.2:3b "write a PR description for: <summary>"` || Classify text | `ollama run llama3.2:3b "classify as bug/feature/chore: <text>"` |**Rule:** No deep reasoning needed + short output = Ollama.---## Tier 1 — Haiku (Cheapest Claude)```bash/model claude-haiku-4-5-20251001```**Good for:** Simple lookups, yes/no questions, short edits with clear instructions, quick one-liners.---## Tier 2 — Sonnet (Default)```bash/model claude-sonnet-4-6```**Good for:** Feature implementation, bug fixes, code reviews, most daily coding tasks. Stay here unless stuck.---## Tier 3 — Opus (Use Sparingly)```bash/model claude-opus-4-6```**Good for:** System architecture, security audits, complex multi-system refactors.**Not for:** Anything Sonnet handles on the first try.---## Read Code SurgicallyEvery line loaded into context costs tokens.| Instead of | Do this ||-----------|---------|| "Read this file and find the auth logic" | "Find the `authenticate` function in `auth.service.ts`" || "Look at the whole component" | "Show me just the `useEffect` hooks in `Dashboard.tsx`" || Opening a 500-line file | Grep for the symbol first, then read only that block |---## Scope Requests TightlyBundling tasks inflates both input and output tokens.**Instead of:** "Fix this bug, refactor the function, add tests, and update the docs"**Do:** Fix the bug → commit → then ask for the next thing separately.---## Stop Retry Loops EarlyRe-running the same failing prompt 5 times multiplies cost with no gain.- Stop after 2 failed attempts- Rethink the approach or ask a more specific question- A different angle costs fewer tokens than brute-forcing the same one---## Biggest Wins (in order)1. **Move commits/translations/summaries to Ollama** — these are 100% free2. **Stay on Sonnet** — don't upgrade to Opus by default3. **Read functions, not files** — surgical reads cut context size dramatically4. **One task per prompt** — smaller prompts, smaller responses

Frequently asked questions