My AI Powered Everday Carry

I’ll touch on everything from my favorite coding tools to what I use for brainstorming, and image generation. We’ll first start with how much all of these subscriptions are costing me monthly.

Subscription Costs and What I Use

I use the big three of AI right now: Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT. All of them offer free subscriptions but if you’re looking for better performance, smarter models, and more advanced features, the paid versions are great value. If you’re an engineer and use the CLI versions of these apps, Codex from OpenAI, Gemini from Google, and Claude Code from Anthropic.

Here’s what I use for my workflow and what purpose each tool serves.

• ChatGPT (web - Pro $20) - General e-mail rephrasing, SEO tips, image generation.
• Gemini (web - Pro $20) - Image generation, systems engineering questions. I’ve found Gemini generally has better solutions for system architecture than Chat.
• Codex (cli - Pro $100) - My main coding tool, I used to use the IDE plugin in VS Code until a recent update destroyed my battery life. I’ve since switched to the CLI and battery life is amazing.
• Claude (cli Pro $20) - I use this for system architecture and game engine design for Fantasy Brawls.

In total, I’m dropping roughly $160 per month on AI tools…and it's worth every penny.

My Current AI Powered Workflow

• Log into Super Easy CRM to view my tasks and meetings for the day.
• Comb through my Gmail and list of curated prospects, news, and content ideas courtesy of Google Workspace Studio.
• Launch (or re-open, because I never close anything) Codex CLI and Claude CLI.
• Claude handles my online - Fantasy Brawls while Codex helps me with Super Easy CRM.
• Launch Gemini to submit all my system architecture queries.
• Use Gemini’s image generation to prototype new characters for Fantasy Brawls and ideas for content for MattFlows, MakeItSuperEasy, and FuelingFood.

AI First CRM of Choice

Super Easy CRM is my CRM of choice, not only because I built it, but because it's geared around operational efficiency not just smashing sales quotas. Within the application, there is an Automation Builder that functions very similar to Power Automate, UI Path and other tools.

Nearly every aspect of the tool can be customized and the AI, Otto, can be asked questions about your data. So each morning, I ask Otto a simple question: What do I have to do today? Then, I get a list of tasks, tickets, and other items I need to knock out.

Gmail the best AI Email Client

Google Workspace is where I run my business and one of the main reasons I started this site. Gmail is wonderful, fast, secure, and integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace Studio. The ecosystem actually feels cohesive unlike Microsoft’s suite of products. Automation lives somewhat separately in that realm with Power Automate feeling more bolted on than integrated with Outlook.

With Workspace Studio I turned my inbox from a mass of unsolicited email to a streamlined accounting of all the relevant news and messages I need for the day.

Codex and Claude CLI The Dynamic Duo

I spend most of my time developing systems and the Codex and Claude CLI have helped me accelerate the rate at which I complete tasks. I use Codex the most as the token allocation is much more generous than what you get in Claude. Even after fine tuning my prompts, limiting the scope of what I’m asking, and refactoring code so it's more readable, I still run through tokens faster than a kid at an arcade.

Codex is much more generous and after upgrading to ChatGPT’s Pro subscription I have yet to run out of tokens during 8+ hour long sessions. Admittedly, part of this is due to me adopting better prompting practices but OpenAI, at this point, is much nicer to devs when it comes to tokens.

Here’s my project breakdown per tool:

• Codex: Super Easy CRM, MattFlows AI Agents
• Claude: Fantasy Brawls, Fueling Food, and MakeItSuperEasy

Gemini for Images and Creative Work

The images for Gemini, especially pixel art ones, are the best around. Additionally, when I upload my hand drawn pixel art images, it does a great job of touching up and augmenting characters with new features. For example, I can draw a standard tree, then upload it into Gemini, have it add flames and it matches the art style almost perfectly. Or, at least good enough that most can’t tell its from two different ‘artists’.

CLI vs Web vs Desktop Client vs IDE extension

The choice of using the desktop, web, and command line versions of these apps boils down to the task you’re performing. Most people are going to see little benefit of using the command line tool over the web app as that one offers a very bare bones experience. I personally prefer it as it helps me focus and is much easier on my Macbook’s battery.

The Codex extension through Visual Studio Code used to be my preferred method until an update made it unusable for me. It drained my battery at a ridiculously fast pace. No matter how many settings I adjusted with my indexing or VS Code itself, nothing improved. In addition to the poor battery life, my otherwise cool M3 Pro was hot enough to fry an egg on.

Until the extension is optimized, you’ll find me deep inside a terminal for most AI assisted coding sessions.

In my opinion, if you have to be connected to the Internet to use it anyway, you might as well just access it through your browser. Granted, if you’re using Claude Cowork, then the Desktop is necessary. But for everybody else, it’s of very little utility.

160 Bucks Buys you an AI Army

For less than $200 per month, you can have the most productive set up you’ve ever had. If your workflow is like mine, combining a mix of images, pixel art, code, writing, and general IT work, the stack in this article is for you.

You don’t need every tool I’ve recommended and if you can only pick one, I’d go with Gemini. It’s the Swiss Army Knife of AI tools right now. Image generation is top notch, it provides more honest feedback than ChatGPT, and it's integrated perfectly into the Google Workspace ecosystem. If you’re an engineer, however, grab the $100 subscription to ChatGPT while it lasts. It's a token buffet that runs efficiently on your laptop.