# Cost & Tool Preferences

## Cost Sensitivity (Added 2026-02-07)
- **Always look for free alternatives first** for any upgrades or new tools
- Avoid adding new API costs where possible
- Current APIs (Anthropic/Claude) are already paid for - use those
- Voice/chat volume is high, so per-request APIs add up quickly
- Don't recommend solutions that add recurring costs without explicitly noting it

## Tool Selection Criteria
1. Free/open source first
2. Local/self-hosted over cloud services
3. One-time cost over subscription
4. Only suggest paid if no viable free option exists
