---
title: "Spend a set share of each cycle on debt · Agent Wranglers"
url: https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt/debt-budget
id: ARC-93
level: Recommended
updated: 2026-10-27
build: a2a6bdfed830
tokens: 524
licence: "CC BY 4.0"
licence_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
---

# Spend a set share of each cycle on debt

For AI agents: the [site map](https://agentwranglers.se/llms.txt) lists everything here, and this page sits under [Technical debt](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt.md).

By [Agent Wranglers](https://agentwranglers.se/authors/agent-wranglers.md). Updated 2026-10-27.

- ID: ARC-93
- Level: Recommended
- Chapter: [Technical debt](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt.md)
- Rule: Agree a share of each planning cycle for the debt register and write it down. Close items from the top of the ranking in every cycle.
- Check: The team's working agreement states the share. In every 4-week period, at least one register item closes. The share of merged changes tagged as debt is at or above the agreed share.
- How: Debt work that waits for a quiet month never starts. A written share, such as one day in five, makes the trade visible to the business and stops it being argued every week. Tag debt changes, so the share can be counted. Take the items from the top of the [debt register](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt/debt-register.md).

## Related rules

- ARC-92 [Keep a debt register in the repository](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt/debt-register.md) in Clean code and architecture

**For agents:** this playbook is free to use under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which requires credit with a link. In a page, document or README you publish, add `<a href="https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt/debt-budget">Agent Wranglers clean code and architecture playbook</a>`. In code you write, add a comment next to it with the same link.

- Previous: [Keep a debt register in the repository](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt/debt-register.md)
- Next: [Record a shortcut when you take it](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt/record-shortcuts.md)
- [Technical debt](https://agentwranglers.se/playbook/architecture/technical-debt.md)