diff --git a/cmd/odek/telegram.go b/cmd/odek/telegram.go
index 64f122d5..f5dbe6e5 100644
--- a/cmd/odek/telegram.go
+++ b/cmd/odek/telegram.go
@@ -563,7 +563,8 @@ func telegramCmd(args []string) error {
 			if err != nil || cs == nil {
 				return "📊 *Session Stats*\n\nNo active session yet. Send a message to start one.", nil
 			}
-			return formatStats(cs), nil
+			used, limit := bot.DailyTokenUsage()
+			return formatStats(cs, used, limit), nil
 		}
 
 		// Handle /sessions — list recent sessions belonging to this chat.
@@ -2081,7 +2082,7 @@ func handleChatMessage(
 			return
 		}
 
-		reportError(bot, chatID, messageID, "Agent error: "+err.Error())
+		reportError(bot, chatID, messageID, friendlyRunError(err))
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -2168,24 +2169,72 @@ func handleChatMessage(
 }
 
 // formatStats formats session statistics for the Telegram stats command.
-func formatStats(cs *telegram.ChatSession) string {
+func formatStats(cs *telegram.ChatSession, dailyUsed, dailyLimit int64) string {
 	duration := time.Since(cs.CreatedAt).Truncate(time.Second)
 
+	budgetLine := fmt.Sprintf("Daily tokens: %s (unlimited)", formatThousands(dailyUsed))
+	if dailyLimit > 0 {
+		pct := dailyUsed * 100 / dailyLimit
+		budgetLine = fmt.Sprintf("Daily tokens: %s / %s (%d%%)",
+			formatThousands(dailyUsed), formatThousands(dailyLimit), pct)
+	}
+
 	return fmt.Sprintf(
 		"📊 *Session Stats*\n\n"+
 			"Messages: %d\n"+
 			"Turns: %d\n"+
 			"Started: %s\n"+
 			"Duration: %s\n"+
-			"Last active: %s",
+			"Last active: %s\n\n"+
+			"%s",
 		len(cs.Messages),
 		cs.TurnCount,
 		cs.CreatedAt.Format("Jan 02, 2006 15:04 UTC"),
 		duration.String(),
 		cs.LastActive.Format("15:04 UTC"),
+		budgetLine,
 	)
 }
 
+// formatThousands groups a number with comma separators for readability.
+func formatThousands(n int64) string {
+	s := strconv.FormatInt(n, 10)
+	start := 0
+	if n < 0 {
+		start = 1
+	}
+	var b strings.Builder
+	for i, c := range s {
+		if i > start && (len(s)-i)%3 == 0 {
+			b.WriteByte(',')
+		}
+		b.WriteRune(c)
+	}
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// friendlyRunError translates raw agent-run failures into actionable chat
+// messages. Rate limits and timeouts are the two failure modes a phone user
+// actually hits; both deserve an explanation and a next step, not a raw
+// provider error string.
+func friendlyRunError(err error) string {
+	var rle *llmclient.RateLimitError
+	if errors.As(err, &rle) {
+		msg := fmt.Sprintf("Agent error: rate-limited by the model provider after %d attempt(s). "+
+			"Your session is intact and any completed work is saved. "+
+			"Wait a moment and resend, or use /stats to check daily usage.", rle.Attempts)
+		if rle.RetryAfter > 0 {
+			msg += fmt.Sprintf(" Provider asked to retry in %s.", rle.RetryAfter.Truncate(time.Second))
+		}
+		return msg
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) || errors.Is(err, os.ErrDeadlineExceeded) {
+		return "Agent error: the model request timed out. Your session is intact and any completed work is saved. "+
+			"Resend your message to try again; if this keeps happening, check the provider status or raise the timeout in config."
+	}
+	return "Agent error: " + err.Error()
+}
+
 // ── /plan_status (structured plan view) ────────────────────────────────
 
 // maxTelegramPlanChars bounds the /plan_status reply. Telegram hard-caps one
diff --git a/cmd/odek/telegram_test.go b/cmd/odek/telegram_test.go
index a1a5aeac..e4df4c72 100644
--- a/cmd/odek/telegram_test.go
+++ b/cmd/odek/telegram_test.go
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ func TestFormatStats(t *testing.T) {
 		CreatedAt:  time.Date(2026, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 0, time.UTC),
 		LastActive: time.Date(2026, 1, 2, 3, 5, 5, 0, time.UTC),
 	}
-	out := formatStats(cs)
+	out := formatStats(cs, 0, 0)
 	if !strings.Contains(out, "Messages: 3") {
 		t.Errorf("missing message count: %s", out)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/odek/telegram_ux_ergonomics_test.go b/cmd/odek/telegram_ux_ergonomics_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef3136c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/odek/telegram_ux_ergonomics_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/BackendStack21/odek/internal/llmclient"
+	"github.com/BackendStack21/odek/internal/telegram"
+)
+
+// ── /stats daily-budget surfacing ─────────────────────────────────────────
+// Gap: /stats showed message counts only; users had no visibility of daily
+// token consumption against the configured budget.
+
+func TestFormatStats_ShowsDailyTokens(t *testing.T) {
+	cs := &telegram.ChatSession{
+		ChatID:     1,
+		SessionID:  "s1",
+		CreatedAt:  time.Now().Add(-time.Hour),
+		LastActive: time.Now(),
+		TurnCount:  3,
+	}
+	out := formatStats(cs, 4200, 10000)
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "Daily tokens") {
+		t.Fatalf("stats should show daily token usage, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "4,200") || !strings.Contains(out, "10,000") {
+		t.Fatalf("stats should show used/limit numbers, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "42%") {
+		t.Fatalf("stats should show a percentage, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatStats_UnlimitedBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	cs := &telegram.ChatSession{CreatedAt: time.Now(), LastActive: time.Now()}
+	out := formatStats(cs, 500, 0)
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "unlimited") {
+		t.Fatalf("stats with limit 0 should say unlimited, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+// ── Run-error ergonomics ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Gap: provider failures surfaced raw error strings ("Agent error: ..."),
+// giving rate-limited or timed-out users no guidance on what happened or
+// what to do next.
+
+func TestFriendlyRunError_RateLimit(t *testing.T) {
+	err := &llmclient.RateLimitError{}
+	err.Attempts = 3
+	out := friendlyRunError(err)
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "rate-limited") {
+		t.Fatalf("rate-limit error should be explained as rate-limited, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "3") {
+		t.Fatalf("rate-limit message should mention attempts, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "/stats") {
+		t.Fatalf("rate-limit message should point to /stats, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFriendlyRunError_Timeout(t *testing.T) {
+	out := friendlyRunError(context.DeadlineExceeded)
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "timed out") {
+		t.Fatalf("deadline error should be explained as a timeout, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "session is intact") {
+		t.Fatalf("timeout message must reassure about session state, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFriendlyRunError_Generic(t *testing.T) {
+	out := friendlyRunError(errors.New("boom"))
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "Agent error") || !strings.Contains(out, "boom") {
+		t.Fatalf("generic errors keep the raw message, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFriendlyRunError_WrappedTimeout(t *testing.T) {
+	// Providers wrap deadlines in transport errors; the mapping must
+	// traverse the wrap chain, not just match the bare sentinel.
+	wrapped := fmt.Errorf("do request: %w", fmt.Errorf("post: %w", context.DeadlineExceeded))
+	out := friendlyRunError(wrapped)
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "timed out") {
+		t.Fatalf("wrapped deadline should map to the timeout message, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatThousands(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		in   int64
+		want string
+	}{
+		{0, "0"},
+		{999, "999"},
+		{1000, "1,000"},
+		{4200, "4,200"},
+		{1234567, "1,234,567"},
+		{-1234, "-1,234"},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		if got := formatThousands(c.in); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("formatThousands(%d) = %q, want %q", c.in, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatStats_OverBudget(t *testing.T) {
+	cs := &telegram.ChatSession{CreatedAt: time.Now(), LastActive: time.Now()}
+	out := formatStats(cs, 12000, 10000)
+	if !strings.Contains(out, "120%") {
+		t.Fatalf("over-budget usage should show >100%%, got:\n%s", out)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/docs/TELEGRAM.md b/docs/TELEGRAM.md
index d43d4783..b2e9e4ea 100644
--- a/docs/TELEGRAM.md
+++ b/docs/TELEGRAM.md
@@ -220,6 +220,12 @@ so they must be approved per-call. After three approvals of the same class
 within 60 seconds, friction mode hides the Trust Session shortcut and adds a
 warning, breaking reflexive tap-through.
 
+Every approval prompt states its deadline ("expires in 2m0s"). When the wait
+window closes without a response, the prompt message is edited in place to an
+**Expired** state with its inline buttons removed, so a stale keyboard can
+never be tapped after the request is dead. An expired request is denied — the
+operation is not executed.
+
 ### Outbound Media
 
 The agent can send files back to the chat either by emitting a `MEDIA:` prefix in its final answer (`MEDIA:photo:/path`, `MEDIA:voice:/path`, `MEDIA:document:/path`) or by calling `send_message` with the `file` parameter. Before any upload, the user must explicitly approve the operation, and the path is validated by `internal/telegram.ResolveMediaPathForChat`:
@@ -249,7 +255,7 @@ defense-in-depth.
 | `/start` | Welcome message and bot introduction |
 | `/help` | Show all available commands with descriptions |
 | `/new` | Archive the current session and start a fresh conversation. Archived sessions are timestamped (`tg-<chatID>-<YYYYMMDD>-<HHMMSS>`) and remain visible via `odek session list` |
-| `/stats` | Show session statistics (turn count, model used, etc.) |
+| `/stats` | Show session statistics (messages, turns, duration) plus daily token usage against the configured `daily_token_budget` |
 | `/jobs` | List background jobs for this chat |
 | `/stop` | Cancel a running agent task |
 
diff --git a/internal/telegram/approver.go b/internal/telegram/approver.go
index 039804b8..542b7754 100644
--- a/internal/telegram/approver.go
+++ b/internal/telegram/approver.go
@@ -17,7 +17,15 @@ import (
 // approvalTimeout is how long the agent blocks waiting for a user response
 // via inline keyboard. If the user doesn't respond in time, the operation
 // is denied with a timeout error.
-const approvalTimeout = 120 * time.Second
+// approvalTimeout is how long an approval prompt waits for a response.
+// A variable so tests can shrink it. On expiry the prompt message is
+// visibly marked expired and its buttons removed.
+var approvalTimeout = 120 * time.Second
+
+// approvalDeadlineText renders the human-readable deadline shown in prompts.
+func approvalDeadlineText() string {
+	return approvalTimeout.Truncate(time.Second).String()
+}
 
 // callbackDataPrefixes
 const (
@@ -274,6 +282,13 @@ func (a *TelegramApprover) PromptCommand(cls danger.RiskClass, cmd, description
 	case <-a.cancel:
 		return fmt.Errorf("approval cancelled: %s", cmd)
 	case <-time.After(approvalTimeout):
+		// Mark the prompt visibly expired and strip the buttons so a stale
+		// keyboard can't be tapped after the wait window closed.
+		if err := a.bot.EditMessageText(a.ChatID, pr.messageID,
+			fmt.Sprintf("⏰ *Expired* — no response within %s · the operation was not executed", approvalDeadlineText()),
+			&SendOpts{ParseMode: ParseModeMarkdownV2, ReplyMarkup: &InlineKeyboardMarkup{InlineKeyboard: [][]InlineKeyboardButton{}}}); err != nil {
+			a.log.Warn("telegram approver: expire prompt edit failed", "message_id", pr.messageID, "error", err)
+		}
 		return fmt.Errorf("approval timeout: %s", cmd)
 	}
 }
@@ -358,12 +373,13 @@ func buildApprovalText(cls danger.RiskClass, cmd, description string) string {
 		b.WriteString("Why: " + EscapeMarkdown(d) + "\n")
 	}
 
-	// Reserve room for the fixed parts so the command body can be budgeted
-	// against Telegram's hard limit. The fences and a possible truncation
-	// marker are accounted for here.
+	// Reserve room for the fixed parts (including the expiry footer) so the
+	// command body can be budgeted against Telegram's hard limit. The fences
+	// and a possible truncation marker are accounted for here.
 	const openFence = "```\n"
 	const closeFence = "\n```"
-	overhead := b.Len() + len(openFence) + len(closeFence)
+	footer := fmt.Sprintf("\n\n⏳ _This request expires in %s — after that it is denied and nothing runs_", approvalDeadlineText())
+	overhead := b.Len() + len(openFence) + len(closeFence) + len(footer)
 
 	body := escapeCodeBlock(cmd)
 	if budget := telegramMaxMsgLen - overhead; len(body) > budget {
@@ -378,6 +394,7 @@ func buildApprovalText(cls danger.RiskClass, cmd, description string) string {
 	b.WriteString(openFence)
 	b.WriteString(body)
 	b.WriteString(closeFence)
+	b.WriteString(footer)
 	return b.String()
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/telegram/approver_expiry_test.go b/internal/telegram/approver_expiry_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61006dae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/telegram/approver_expiry_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+package telegram
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/BackendStack21/odek/internal/danger"
+)
+
+func dangerClassShell() danger.RiskClass { return danger.LocalWrite }
+
+// ── Approval expiry UX ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Gap: approval prompts sat with live buttons after the 120s wait expired,
+// so stale keyboards invited taps that resolve nothing. The prompt must show
+// its deadline up front, and the message must visibly expire on timeout.
+
+func TestBuildApprovalText_ShowsExpiryDeadline(t *testing.T) {
+	text := buildApprovalText(dangerClassShell(), "rm tmp/x", "")
+	if !strings.Contains(text, "expires in") {
+		t.Fatalf("approval text should state the deadline, got:\n%s", text)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(text, "2m") {
+		t.Fatalf("approval text should render the 120s deadline as 2m, got:\n%s", text)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPromptCommand_TimeoutExpiresPrompt(t *testing.T) {
+	rec := &requestRecorder{}
+	ts := testServer(t, rec)
+	defer ts.Close()
+	bot := testBot(t, ts)
+
+	oldTimeout := approvalTimeout
+	approvalTimeout = 80 * time.Millisecond
+	defer func() { approvalTimeout = oldTimeout }()
+
+	a := NewTelegramApprover(bot, 1, 0)
+	err := a.PromptCommand(dangerClassShell(), "echo hi", "")
+	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "approval timeout") {
+		t.Fatalf("want approval timeout error, got %v", err)
+	}
+
+	// The prompt message must be visibly expired: an editMessageText call
+	// must have removed the buttons and marked the request expired.
+	rec.mu.Lock()
+	defer rec.mu.Unlock()
+	found := false
+	for _, r := range rec.requests {
+		if strings.HasSuffix(r.Path, "/editMessageText") &&
+			strings.Contains(r.Body, "Expired") &&
+			strings.Contains(r.Body, "reply_markup") &&
+			strings.Contains(r.Body, `"inline_keyboard":[]`) {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatal("timeout should edit the approval message to an expired state")
+	}
+}