diff --git a/DOCS-ctl-socket.md b/DOCS-ctl-socket.md
index 84331f1..fca02ac 100644
--- a/DOCS-ctl-socket.md
+++ b/DOCS-ctl-socket.md
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ server: `_ctl_client.py` (results in `_ctl_types.py`, errors in `_ctl_protocol.p
 ## Gaming reset
 
 `_gaming_reset.reset_today`, shared with the CLI: zeroes billed time and per-game
-attribution, re-arms warnings, releases the mounts, keeps earned time (`carry`,
-`budget_seconds`; the old CLI path dropped both), and writes a `manual_adjustment`
+attribution, re-arms warnings, releases the mounts, keeps earned time
+(`budget_seconds`; the old CLI path dropped it), and writes a `manual_adjustment`
 record to `/var/log/steam-backlog-enforcer/budget.jsonl` (billed seconds and
 per-game breakdown before). That record is the auditable trail; the per-day
 history mirrors current billed time, so it shows the day as quiet.
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ whole downtime. Everything else already lives on disk after every tick:
 | Billed seconds, per-game attribution | yes | `playtime_state.json` saved every tick; the final tick bills up to the exit, the first tick of the new daemon bills the gap |
 | Cutoff / kill-grace timing | yes | `blocked_at` is persisted; `_sustain_block` measures from it |
 | Playtime mounts (the block itself) | yes | kernel mount table; `reconcile` is mountinfo-driven. `RuntimeDirectoryPreserve=yes` keeps the stub file |
-| Fired warnings, carry ledger | yes | in `PlaytimeState` |
+| Fired warnings, budget high-water | yes | in `PlaytimeState` |
 | Open store window | yes (blip) | deadline in `state.json`; startup re-blocks the store once, the first tick re-opens it |
 | Total block | yes | lock file, guard-lib |
 | Armed gaming reset | no | memory only: arm again (fails closed) |
diff --git a/TODO-log-carry-in-budget-line.md b/TODO-log-carry-in-budget-line.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 47fc91c..0000000
--- a/TODO-log-carry-in-budget-line.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-# Log the Fri->Sat/Sun/Mon carry in the budget resolver line
-
-Carried over from the 2026-10-10 tutor-cutover handoff (item 4b, optional).
-
-## what
-Saturday's budget showed 15144 s = 14400 + 744 s carried over from Friday
-(`_gaming_days.py` `pass_on`, commit 9586128). That is intended, but the
-"Gaming budget ..." log line (`_budget_resolve.py` ~:176) does not show the
-carry, so the number looks wrong. Include the carry seconds in that line.
-
-## where
-`steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_resolve.py`, carry from
-`_playtime_budget.py` (`PlaytimeState.carry`).
-
-## must
-- must not: change the budget arithmetic — log only.
-
-## done
-On a carry day the journal line reads like
-`Gaming budget ... (+744 s carried from Fri)`; a unit test asserts it.
-
-REMOVE ME AFTER FINISH
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_resolve.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_resolve.py
index 03e59a7..5a5950f 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_resolve.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_resolve.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ while the gaming day runs to 05:59, and a cold restart resolves with empty
 answer caches, so a live answer can come in lower than one given hours ago.
 That bit twice (2026-10-03 and 2026-10-04 00:00, 8h -> 4h, unwarned cutoff).
 ``PlaytimeState.budget_seconds`` is the day's high-water mark, and
-``rules_for`` applies ``max(resolved + carry, held)`` via
+``rules_for`` applies ``max(resolved, held)`` via
 ``_gaming_days.held_today`` -- so the daemon, ``/api/budget`` and MCP all see
 the held figure. Only the 06:00 roll-over lowers it.
 
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 _SECONDS_PER_MINUTE: Final = 60.0
 _SECONDS_PER_HOUR: Final = 3600.0
+# The last reason logged, so a long-lived daemon logs a budget only on change.
+_last_logged: Final[dict[str, str]] = {}
 
 # How each earner reads in the reason string: (earned, missed, unknown).
 # An earner registered later without an entry here gets a generic phrase.
@@ -173,7 +175,11 @@ def resolve_budget(config: Config) -> BudgetResolution:
         _describe(t.earner.name, t.earner.label, t.answer) for t in day.terms
     )
     reason = f"{total / _SECONDS_PER_HOUR:.1f}h: {parts}"
-    logger.info("Gaming budget %s", reason)
+    # The daemon resolves every tick (3 s): an unchanged answer logged each
+    # time was 25k identical journal lines a day that buried everything else.
+    if reason != _last_logged.get("reason"):
+        _last_logged["reason"] = reason
+        logger.info("Gaming budget %s", reason)
     return BudgetResolution(
         seconds=total,
         base_seconds=day.base.gaming_minutes * _SECONDS_PER_MINUTE,
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_view.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_view.py
index 4708f52..00094a8 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_view.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_budget_view.py
@@ -167,8 +167,6 @@ def build_rules(rules: PlaytimeRules) -> dict[str, Any]:
         # is what would let this view report a budget the daemon is not
         # enforcing. See _budget_resolve's "one seam".
         "budget_reason": rules.budget_reason,
-        # Unspent Fri-Sun time inherited by today; already inside budget_seconds.
-        "carry_seconds": rules.carry_seconds,
         "bonuses": {
             "base": rules.base_seconds,
             "workout": rules.workout_seconds,
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_days.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_days.py
index 3e9270f..2cf4358 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_days.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_days.py
@@ -1,24 +1,13 @@
-"""Gaming-day arithmetic: which day *now* is, and what it inherits.
+"""Gaming-day arithmetic: which day *now* is, and what it already granted.
 
 A gaming "day" runs 06:00-05:59 local, so late-night sessions count against
 the day they started in.
 
-**Free-day carry-over.** Friday to Monday is one block. Whatever a Friday,
-Saturday or Sunday leaves unspent is split evenly, with no strings attached,
-across the days still left in that block:
-
-    Fri leftover -> Sat, Sun, Mon (a third each)
-    Sat leftover -> Sun, Mon      (half each)
-    Sun leftover -> Mon
-
-Monday's leftover, and any Tuesday-Thursday leftover, is dropped. A day's
-leftover is measured against its whole budget *including* what it inherited,
-so time carried into Saturday and not played moves on to Sunday and Monday
-rather than being lost.
-
-The ledger lives on ``PlaytimeState`` -- root-owned and immutable -- and never
-in ``playtime_history.json``: that file is user-writable, and a stored budget
-read from it would let anyone grant themselves unlimited time.
+There is no carry-over: unspent time is dropped at 06:00, every day. The
+Friday-Monday carry ledger was removed on 2026-10-18, after a Sunday ran
+past the 6.0h the i3 bar showed because 2h47m had been carried into it.
+``load_state`` takes a legacy ledger's share back out of the stored
+high-water mark.
 
 Everything here is pure: it works on primitives handed to it, so it imports
 nothing from the playtime modules and cannot close an import cycle.
@@ -26,7 +15,7 @@ nothing from the playtime modules and cannot close an import cycle.
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from datetime import date, timedelta
+from datetime import timedelta
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Final
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -37,10 +26,6 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
 # The gaming day starts here, local time. 05:59 belongs to the previous day.
 _DAY_BOUNDARY_HOURS: Final = 6
 
-# Weekday (Monday == 0) whose leftover is passed on -> how many later days of
-# the Friday-Monday block share it.
-_SHARES: Final = {4: 3, 5: 2, 6: 1}
-
 
 def gaming_day_key(now: datetime) -> str:
     """Return the ``YYYY-MM-DD`` gaming day containing *now*.
@@ -56,97 +41,6 @@ def gaming_day_key(now: datetime) -> str:
     return (now - timedelta(hours=_DAY_BOUNDARY_HOURS)).date().isoformat()
 
 
-def pass_on(
-    carry: dict[str, float],
-    *,
-    outgoing_day: str,
-    budget: float,
-    spent: float,
-    new_day: str,
-) -> dict[str, float]:
-    """Return the carry ledger as it stands once *new_day* begins.
-
-    Shares owed to days before *new_day* are dropped, which both bounds the
-    ledger and means a day the daemon never saw simply forfeits its share.
-
-    Args:
-        carry: Day key to seconds owed, as held by the outgoing day.
-        outgoing_day: The gaming day that just ended; ``""`` if none.
-        budget: The outgoing day's budget, carry included.
-        spent: Seconds billed during the outgoing day.
-        new_day: The gaming day now starting.
-
-    Returns:
-        The ledger for *new_day*, the outgoing day's leftover added.
-    """
-    owed = {day: seconds for day, seconds in carry.items() if day >= new_day}
-    if not outgoing_day:
-        return owed
-    ended = date.fromisoformat(outgoing_day)
-    shares = _SHARES.get(ended.weekday(), 0)
-    leftover = max(0.0, budget - spent)
-    for offset in range(1, shares + 1):
-        target = (ended + timedelta(days=offset)).isoformat()
-        if target >= new_day:
-            owed[target] = owed.get(target, 0.0) + leftover / shares
-    return owed
-
-
-def carry_due(
-    carry: dict[str, float],
-    *,
-    stored_day: str,
-    budget: float,
-    spent: float,
-    today: str,
-) -> float:
-    """Return the seconds carried into *today*.
-
-    The stored record may still describe yesterday -- the first tick after
-    06:00 resolves the budget before rolling the state over -- so the ledger is
-    projected forward exactly as ``roll_over`` will do it.
-
-    Args:
-        carry: The stored ledger.
-        stored_day: The gaming day the stored record covers.
-        budget: That day's budget, carry included.
-        spent: Seconds billed during that day.
-        today: The current gaming day.
-
-    Returns:
-        Seconds inherited by *today*, or 0.
-    """
-    owed = (
-        carry
-        if stored_day == today
-        else pass_on(
-            carry, outgoing_day=stored_day, budget=budget, spent=spent, new_day=today
-        )
-    )
-    return owed.get(today, 0.0)
-
-
-def carry_into(stored: PlaytimeState | None, now: datetime) -> float:
-    """Return the seconds carried into the gaming day containing *now*.
-
-    Args:
-        stored: The persisted production state, or ``None`` if unreadable.
-        now: Local timestamp for this tick.
-
-    Returns:
-        The carry owed to today; 0 when no state is recorded.
-    """
-    if stored is None:
-        return 0.0
-    return carry_due(
-        stored.carry,
-        stored_day=stored.day_key,
-        budget=stored.budget_seconds,
-        spent=stored.seconds,
-        today=gaming_day_key(now),
-    )
-
-
 def held_today(stored: PlaytimeState | None, now: datetime) -> float:
     """Return the budget already granted earlier in *now*'s gaming day.
 
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_reset.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_reset.py
index f41b9d8..cf345d6 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_reset.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_gaming_reset.py
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ class ResetOutcome:
 def reset_today(*, source: str) -> ResetOutcome:
     """Zero today's billed time, drop the block and record the adjustment.
 
-    The earned-time bookkeeping (``carry`` from earlier free days, the day's
-    ``budget_seconds`` high-water mark) is kept: resetting spent time must not
-    also revoke time already earned. Warnings re-arm because ``seconds`` is
-    back at zero.
+    The day's ``budget_seconds`` high-water mark is kept: resetting spent
+    time must not also revoke time already earned. Warnings re-arm because
+    ``seconds`` is back at zero.
 
     The reset is written to the budget audit log as a ``manual_adjustment``
     (with what was billed before, per game); that record is the auditable
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_mcp_gaming_time.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_mcp_gaming_time.py
index e2b83d8..04ac19d 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_mcp_gaming_time.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_mcp_gaming_time.py
@@ -56,9 +56,8 @@ def get_gaming_time() -> dict[str, Any]:
         "seconds_used": today["seconds_used"],
         "budget_seconds": today["budget_seconds"],
         "seconds_remaining": today["seconds_remaining"],
-        # What earned budget_seconds, Friday-Monday carry-over included.
+        # What earned budget_seconds.
         "budget_reason": rules["budget_reason"],
-        "carry_seconds": rules["carry_seconds"],
         "next_warning_seconds": today["next_warning_seconds"],
         "blocked": today["blocked"],
         "enforcement": rules["enforcement"],
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_budget.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_budget.py
index 581fce6..c7c9312 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_budget.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_budget.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ from dataclasses import replace
 import logging
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
-from steam_backlog_enforcer._gaming_days import pass_on
 from steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state import (
     _DELTA_CLAMP_FACTOR,
     PlaytimeRules,
@@ -80,9 +79,8 @@ def roll_over(state: PlaytimeState, *, day_key: str) -> PlaytimeState:
     """Reset *state* if the gaming day has changed.
 
     Pure. ``last_tick_at`` carries across the boundary so the first tick of the
-    new day measures a sane delta rather than restarting from zero, and the carry
-    ledger crosses it with the outgoing day's leftover added (see
-    ``_gaming_days``).
+    new day measures a sane delta rather than restarting from zero. Nothing else
+    does: the outgoing day's unspent time is dropped.
 
     Args:
         state: Current accounting state.
@@ -93,17 +91,7 @@ def roll_over(state: PlaytimeState, *, day_key: str) -> PlaytimeState:
     """
     if state.day_key == day_key:
         return state
-    return PlaytimeState(
-        day_key=day_key,
-        last_tick_at=state.last_tick_at,
-        carry=pass_on(
-            state.carry,
-            outgoing_day=state.day_key,
-            budget=state.budget_seconds,
-            spent=state.seconds,
-            new_day=day_key,
-        ),
-    )
+    return PlaytimeState(day_key=day_key, last_tick_at=state.last_tick_at)
 
 
 def pending_warning(state: PlaytimeState, rules: PlaytimeRules) -> int | None:
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_cutoff.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_cutoff.py
index 61a9cc1..d86fbb0 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_cutoff.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_cutoff.py
@@ -65,10 +65,14 @@ def _warn(state: PlaytimeState, rules: PlaytimeRules) -> PlaytimeState:
     if threshold is None:
         return state
 
-    notify_desktop_user(
-        "Gaming time running out",
-        f"{_humanise(threshold)} of today's gaming budget left.",
+    left = f"{_humanise(threshold)} of today's gaming budget left."
+    logger.info(
+        "Gaming warning: %s (billed %.0fs of %.0fs)",
+        left,
+        state.seconds,
+        rules.budget_seconds,
     )
+    notify_desktop_user("Gaming time running out", left)
     return replace(state, warned_seconds=[*state.warned_seconds, threshold])
 
 
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_legacy.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_legacy.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f544fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_legacy.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+"""Read-side compatibility for the removed Friday-Monday carry-over.
+
+Exists only to read ``playtime_state.json`` records written before carry-over
+was removed on 2026-10-18. Such a record lives at most one gaming day (the
+next ``save_state`` drops the ``carry`` key), so this module can be deleted
+once no such record can remain.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from dataclasses import replace
+import logging
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    # Type-only: _playtime_state imports this module at runtime.
+    from steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state import PlaytimeState
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+def without_legacy_carry(state: PlaytimeState, carry: object) -> PlaytimeState:
+    """Take a removed carry ledger's share for the day out of its high-water.
+
+    Records written before 2026-10-18 folded the Friday-Monday carry into
+    ``budget_seconds``, and ``held_today`` would keep paying it out for the
+    rest of that day. The key itself is dropped by the next ``save_state``.
+
+    Args:
+        state: The record as loaded.
+        carry: The raw ``carry`` value from the file, if any.
+
+    Returns:
+        *state*, its ``budget_seconds`` lowered by the day's carried share.
+    """
+    if not isinstance(carry, dict):
+        return state
+    share = carry.get(state.day_key, 0.0)
+    if not isinstance(share, int | float) or share <= 0:
+        return state
+    logger.warning(
+        "Dropping %.0fs of legacy carry-over from %s's budget.", share, state.day_key
+    )
+    return replace(state, budget_seconds=max(0.0, state.budget_seconds - share))
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_log.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_log.py
index 289d89a..fcb6018 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_log.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_log.py
@@ -223,5 +223,6 @@ def _snapshot(
         "qualifying": sorted(qualifying),
         "day_key": state.day_key,
         "billed_seconds": round(state.seconds, 3),
+        "budget_seconds": round(rules.budget_seconds, 3),
         "remaining_seconds": round(rules.budget_seconds - state.seconds, 3),
     }
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_state.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_state.py
index 445023f..a3a6c00 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_state.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/_playtime_state.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """The daily playtime budget: its state, its rules, and its persistence.
 
-Gaming days and the Friday-Monday carry-over live in ``_gaming_days``. State
+Gaming days and the held budget live in ``_gaming_days``. State
 is written atomically and re-read every tick, which is what lets the enforcer
 survive a restart mid-session.
 """
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import logging
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 from steam_backlog_enforcer._budget_resolve import resolve_budget
-from steam_backlog_enforcer._gaming_days import carry_into, held_today
+from steam_backlog_enforcer._gaming_days import held_today
+from steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_legacy import without_legacy_carry
 from steam_backlog_enforcer._whitelist_locking import (
     _try_set_immutable,
     unlock_for_write,
@@ -95,12 +96,10 @@ class PlaytimeState:
     warned_seconds: list[int] = field(default_factory=list)
     """Warning thresholds already fired during ``day_key``."""
     budget_seconds: float = 0.0
-    """Highest budget in force during ``day_key``, carry included; ``0.0`` if unset.
+    """Highest budget in force during ``day_key``; ``0.0`` if unset.
 
-    What ``roll_over`` measures the outgoing day's leftover against.
+    What ``held_today`` holds the day at when a live re-resolution dips.
     """
-    carry: dict[str, float] = field(default_factory=dict)
-    """Day key to seconds carried into it from earlier days of the block."""
 
     def is_blocked(self) -> bool:
         """Whether the cutoff has engaged for this gaming day.
@@ -133,7 +132,6 @@ class PlaytimeRules:
     reading_seconds: float = 0.0
     earned_seconds: dict[str, float] = field(default_factory=dict)
     budget_reason: str = ""
-    carry_seconds: float = 0.0
 
 
 def rules_for(config: Config, *, demo: bool) -> PlaytimeRules:
@@ -153,12 +151,10 @@ def rules_for(config: Config, *, demo: bool) -> PlaytimeRules:
     # Resolved *here*, not per caller, so the daemon (one Config for life) and
     # _budget_view (Config per request) can never report different budgets.
     resolved = None if demo else resolve_budget(config)
-    # Carry sits on top of the 8h cap (earned, not spent: no strings). The
-    # day never re-prices below what it already granted -- see held_today.
+    # The day never re-prices below what it already granted -- see held_today.
     now = datetime.now().astimezone()
     stored = None if demo else load_state(demo=False)
-    carry = 0.0 if demo else carry_into(stored, now)
-    live = 0.0 if resolved is None else resolved.seconds + carry
+    live = 0.0 if resolved is None else resolved.seconds
     held = held_today(stored, now)
     held_note = f"; held at {held / 3600:.1f}h (earned earlier today)"
     return PlaytimeRules(
@@ -178,11 +174,8 @@ def rules_for(config: Config, *, demo: bool) -> PlaytimeRules:
         budget_reason=(
             "demo run"
             if resolved is None
-            else resolved.reason
-            + (f", +{carry / 60:.0f}m carried over" if carry > 0 else "")
-            + (held_note if held > live else "")
+            else resolved.reason + (held_note if held > live else "")
         ),
-        carry_seconds=carry,
     )
 
 
@@ -227,7 +220,8 @@ def load_state(*, demo: bool) -> PlaytimeState | None:
         logger.warning("Playtime state at %s has an unknown schema.", path)
         return None
     known = {f.name for f in fields(PlaytimeState)}
-    return PlaytimeState(**{k: v for k, v in data.items() if k in known})
+    state = PlaytimeState(**{k: v for k, v in data.items() if k in known})
+    return without_legacy_carry(state, data.get("carry"))
 
 
 def save_state(state: PlaytimeState, *, demo: bool) -> None:
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_resolve.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_resolve.py
index 8fa0d92..dbbac7c 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_resolve.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_resolve.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from unittest.mock import patch
 import earned_time
 import pytest
 
-from steam_backlog_enforcer import _leetcode_bonus, _workout_budget
+from steam_backlog_enforcer import _budget_resolve, _leetcode_bonus, _workout_budget
 from steam_backlog_enforcer._budget_resolve import resolve_budget
 from steam_backlog_enforcer.config import Config
 from steam_backlog_enforcer.tests._budget_dates import AFTER_CUT, pin_today
@@ -41,9 +41,11 @@ def _clear_caches() -> Iterator[None]:
     """
     _workout_budget.reset_cache()
     _leetcode_bonus.reset_cache()
+    _budget_resolve._last_logged.clear()
     yield
     _workout_budget.reset_cache()
     _leetcode_bonus.reset_cache()
+    _budget_resolve._last_logged.clear()
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
@@ -202,3 +204,20 @@ class TestTheExplanation:
         assert "no counted workout" in caplog.text
         assert "no LeetCode solve recorded" in caplog.text
         assert "no reading credited" in caplog.text
+
+    def test_an_unchanged_budget_is_logged_once(
+        self, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
+    ) -> None:
+        """The daemon resolves every 3 s; only a change is worth a journal line.
+
+        Args:
+            caplog: pytest's log capture.
+        """
+        with (
+            caplog.at_level(logging.INFO),
+            patch(_WORKOUT, return_value=False),
+            patch(_LEETCODE, return_value=False),
+        ):
+            resolve_budget(Config())
+            resolve_budget(Config())
+        assert caplog.text.count("Gaming budget") == 1
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_view.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_view.py
index f2bc34c..75487ae 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_view.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_budget_view.py
@@ -28,11 +28,10 @@ from steam_backlog_enforcer.tests._no_workout_http import earned_budget, fixed_b
 # effect yet -- without this patch, collecting this module makes a real HTTP
 # call to the screen locker and pins RULES to whatever budget today happens to
 # have earned. Stub it explicitly so the constant is the earned budget always.
-# The carry is pinned for the same reason: conftest's redirects are not active
-# at import either, so rules_for would read the LIVE playtime_state.json and
-# fold whatever Fri-Mon carry it holds today into RULES.
+# The held budget is pinned for the same reason: conftest's redirects are not
+# active at import either, so rules_for would read the LIVE playtime_state.json
+# and hold RULES at whatever high-water mark it records today.
 with (
-    patch("steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state.carry_into", return_value=0.0),
     patch("steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state.held_today", return_value=0.0),
     patch(
         "steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state.resolve_budget",
@@ -224,7 +223,6 @@ class TestBuildBudgetSnapshot:
             "demo",
             "masked_launchers",
             "budget_reason",
-            "carry_seconds",
             "bonuses",
             "earners",
         }
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_days.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_days.py
index c32d909..f9d9eb9 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_days.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_days.py
@@ -1,19 +1,23 @@
-"""Tests for the Friday-Monday carry-over in _gaming_days."""
+"""Tests for _gaming_days: the day boundary, the held budget, no carry-over."""
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-from dataclasses import replace
+from dataclasses import fields
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+import json
 from unittest.mock import patch
 
-from steam_backlog_enforcer._gaming_days import (
-    carry_due,
-    carry_into,
-    held_today,
-    pass_on,
-)
+import pytest
+
+from steam_backlog_enforcer._gaming_days import held_today
 from steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_budget import roll_over
-from steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state import PlaytimeState, rules_for
+from steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state import (
+    PlaytimeRules,
+    PlaytimeState,
+    load_state,
+    rules_for,
+    state_path,
+)
 from steam_backlog_enforcer.config import Config
 
 HOUR = 3600.0
@@ -22,105 +26,52 @@ LOCAL = timezone(timedelta(hours=2))
 THU, FRI, SAT, SUN, MON, TUE = (f"2026-10-{d:02d}" for d in range(1, 7))
 
 
-def _leftover(day: str, *, budget: float, spent: float, new_day: str) -> dict:
-    return pass_on({}, outgoing_day=day, budget=budget, spent=spent, new_day=new_day)
+class TestNoCarryOver:
+    """Unspent time never moves to a later day (carry-over dropped 2026-10-18)."""
 
-
-class TestPassOn:
-    """Who inherits a day's unspent budget."""
-
-    def test_friday_splits_three_ways(self) -> None:
-        owed = _leftover(FRI, budget=8 * HOUR, spent=7 * HOUR, new_day=SAT)
-        assert owed == {SAT: 1200.0, SUN: 1200.0, MON: 1200.0}
-
-    def test_saturday_splits_two_ways(self) -> None:
-        owed = _leftover(SAT, budget=8 * HOUR, spent=7 * HOUR, new_day=SUN)
-        assert owed == {SUN: 1800.0, MON: 1800.0}
-
-    def test_sunday_goes_to_monday(self) -> None:
-        assert _leftover(SUN, budget=HOUR, spent=0.0, new_day=MON) == {MON: HOUR}
-
-    def test_monday_and_weekdays_drop_their_leftover(self) -> None:
-        assert _leftover(MON, budget=HOUR, spent=0.0, new_day=TUE) == {}
-        assert _leftover(THU, budget=HOUR, spent=0.0, new_day=FRI) == {}
-
-    def test_overspent_day_carries_nothing(self) -> None:
-        owed = _leftover(SUN, budget=HOUR, spent=2 * HOUR, new_day=MON)
-        assert owed == {MON: 0.0}
-
-    def test_no_outgoing_day_keeps_only_future_shares(self) -> None:
-        owed = pass_on(
-            {FRI: 5.0, SUN: 7.0}, outgoing_day="", budget=0.0, spent=0.0, new_day=SAT
+    def test_a_saturday_leftover_is_not_passed_on(self) -> None:
+        sun = roll_over(
+            PlaytimeState(day_key=SAT, seconds=HOUR, budget_seconds=8 * HOUR),
+            day_key=SUN,
         )
-        assert owed == {SUN: 7.0}
+        assert sun == PlaytimeState(day_key=SUN)
+        assert "carry" not in vars(sun)
 
-    def test_a_skipped_day_forfeits_its_share(self) -> None:
-        owed = _leftover(FRI, budget=3 * HOUR, spent=0.0, new_day=SUN)
-        assert owed == {SUN: HOUR, MON: HOUR}
+    def test_rules_have_no_carry(self) -> None:
+        assert "carry_seconds" not in {f.name for f in fields(PlaytimeRules)}
 
-    def test_shares_accumulate_with_earlier_ones(self) -> None:
-        owed = pass_on(
-            {SUN: 600.0, MON: 600.0},
-            outgoing_day=SAT,
-            budget=HOUR,
-            spent=0.0,
-            new_day=SUN,
-        )
-        assert owed == {SUN: 2400.0, MON: 2400.0}
+    def test_a_legacy_carry_is_taken_out_of_todays_high_water(self) -> None:
+        # The live file on 2026-10-18 held 6.0h earned + 9994s carried into the
+        # day's high-water mark; held_today would otherwise keep paying it out.
+        legacy = {
+            "schema_version": 1,
+            "day_key": SUN,
+            "seconds": 6 * HOUR,
+            "budget_seconds": 6 * HOUR + 9994.0,
+            "carry": {SUN: 9994.0, MON: 9994.0},
+        }
+        state_path(demo=False).write_text(json.dumps(legacy), encoding="utf-8")
+        stored = load_state(demo=False)
+        assert stored is not None
+        assert stored.budget_seconds == 6 * HOUR
+        assert "carry" not in vars(stored)
 
-
-class TestCarryDue:
-    """Today's share, whether or not the stored record has rolled over."""
-
-    def test_same_day_reads_the_ledger(self) -> None:
-        due = carry_due({SAT: 60.0}, stored_day=SAT, budget=0.0, spent=0.0, today=SAT)
-        assert due == 60.0
-
-    def test_stale_record_is_projected_forward(self) -> None:
-        due = carry_due({}, stored_day=FRI, budget=4 * HOUR, spent=HOUR, today=SAT)
-        assert due == HOUR
-
-
-class TestCarryInto:
-    """Reading the carry off a stored state."""
-
-    def test_no_state_means_no_carry(self) -> None:
-        assert carry_into(None, datetime(2026, 10, 3, 10, tzinfo=LOCAL)) == 0.0
-
-    def test_reads_the_projected_share(self) -> None:
-        stored = PlaytimeState(day_key=FRI, seconds=HOUR, budget_seconds=4 * HOUR)
-        assert carry_into(stored, datetime(2026, 10, 3, 10, tzinfo=LOCAL)) == HOUR
-
-
-class TestRollOverCarry:
-    """roll_over threads the ledger across the 06:00 boundary."""
-
-    def test_unspent_carry_moves_on(self) -> None:
-        sat = roll_over(
-            PlaytimeState(day_key=FRI, seconds=7 * HOUR, budget_seconds=8 * HOUR),
-            day_key=SAT,
-        )
-        sat = replace(sat, seconds=8 * HOUR, budget_seconds=8 * HOUR + 1200.0)
-        sun = roll_over(sat, day_key=SUN)
-        assert sun.carry == {SUN: 1800.0, MON: 1800.0}
-
-
-class TestRulesCarry:
-    """rules_for adds the carry above the cap and says so."""
-
-    def test_carry_lands_in_budget_and_reason(self) -> None:
-        with patch(
-            "steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state.carry_into", return_value=1200.0
-        ):
-            rules = rules_for(Config(), demo=False)
-        assert rules.carry_seconds == 1200.0
-        assert rules.budget_reason.endswith(", +20m carried over")
-
-    def test_demo_never_carries(self) -> None:
-        with patch(
-            "steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_state.carry_into", return_value=1200.0
-        ):
-            assert rules_for(Config(), demo=True).carry_seconds == 0.0
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "carry", [{MON: 9994.0}, {SUN: "9994"}, {SUN: 0.0}, [9994.0]]
+    )
+    def test_a_ledger_owing_today_nothing_leaves_the_budget(
+        self, carry: object
+    ) -> None:
+        legacy = {
+            "schema_version": 1,
+            "day_key": SUN,
+            "budget_seconds": 6 * HOUR,
+            "carry": carry,
+        }
+        state_path(demo=False).write_text(json.dumps(legacy), encoding="utf-8")
+        stored = load_state(demo=False)
+        assert stored is not None
+        assert stored.budget_seconds == 6 * HOUR
 
 
 class TestHeldToday:
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_reset.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_reset.py
index 8d75892..351a8f6 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_reset.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_gaming_reset.py
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ def _spent_state(day_key: str) -> PlaytimeState:
         last_credited_key="1",
         warned_seconds=[600],
         budget_seconds=1800.0,
-        carry={"2999-01-01": 120.0},
     )
 
 
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ class TestResetToday:
         assert stored is not None
         assert (stored.seconds, stored.blocked_at, stored.per_game) == (0.0, 0.0, {})
         assert (stored.last_credited_key, stored.warned_seconds) == ("", [])
-        assert (stored.budget_seconds, stored.carry) == (1800.0, {"2999-01-01": 120.0})
+        assert stored.budget_seconds == 1800.0
         assert stored.last_tick_at > 0
 
     def test_audit_record_has_the_before_picture(self) -> None:
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_cutoff.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_cutoff.py
index a3fbcd4..34e7bd6 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_cutoff.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_cutoff.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 from contextlib import ExitStack
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
+import logging
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
 
 import pytest
@@ -196,6 +197,15 @@ class TestWarn:
         assert out.warned_seconds == [3600, 1800, 600, 300]
         assert "5 minutes" in mock_notify.call_args.args[1]
 
+    def test_a_fired_warning_is_logged(self, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture) -> None:
+        state = PlaytimeState(seconds=8 * 3600 - 300, warned_seconds=[3600, 1800, 600])
+        with (
+            caplog.at_level(logging.INFO),
+            patch("steam_backlog_enforcer._playtime_cutoff.notify_desktop_user"),
+        ):
+            _warn(state, _rules())
+        assert "5 minutes" in caplog.text
+
     def test_no_op_when_nothing_is_due(self) -> None:
         state = PlaytimeState(seconds=0.0)
         with patch(
diff --git a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_log.py b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_log.py
index 7700741..a11c405 100644
--- a/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_log.py
+++ b/steam_backlog_enforcer/tests/test_playtime_log.py
@@ -176,3 +176,4 @@ class TestTickJournal:
         assert record["qualifying"] == [11, 22]
         assert record["state"] == "engaged"
         assert record["remaining_seconds"] == 28700.0
+        assert record["budget_seconds"] == 28800.0
diff --git a/web/mock/budget.ts b/web/mock/budget.ts
index 1647343..4456715 100644
--- a/web/mock/budget.ts
+++ b/web/mock/budget.ts
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ export function budget(demo: boolean): BudgetSnapshot {
       warn_at: [3600, 1800, 600, 300],
       demo,
       masked_launchers: ['heroic', 'lutris'],
-      carry_seconds: demo ? 0 : 1200,
     },
   }
 }
diff --git a/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.test.tsx b/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.test.tsx
index d0143cf..28528e7 100644
--- a/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.test.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.test.tsx
@@ -12,13 +12,6 @@ describe('BudgetRulesCard', () => {
     expect(screen.getByText(/1h 0m, 30m, 10m, 5m remaining/)).toBeInTheDocument()
     expect(screen.queryByText(/demo/)).toBeNull()
     expect(screen.queryByText('Masked now')).toBeNull()
-    expect(screen.queryByText('Carried over')).toBeNull()
-  })
-
-  it('shows time carried over from earlier free days', () => {
-    render(<BudgetRulesCard rules={makeBudgetRules({ carry_seconds: 1200 })} />)
-    expect(screen.getByText('Carried over')).toBeInTheDocument()
-    expect(screen.getByText(/\+20m unspent from earlier free days/)).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
   it('shows the demo mode and masked launchers when they apply', () => {
diff --git a/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.tsx b/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.tsx
index 5cd850c..a4787fe 100644
--- a/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/BudgetRulesCard.tsx
@@ -16,12 +16,6 @@ export function BudgetRulesCard({ rules }: Props) {
       <dl className="budget-rules-list">
         <dt>Daily budget</dt>
         <dd>{fmtDuration(rules.budget_seconds)}</dd>
-        {rules.carry_seconds > 0 && (
-          <>
-            <dt>Carried over</dt>
-            <dd>+{fmtDuration(rules.carry_seconds)} unspent from earlier free days</dd>
-          </>
-        )}
         <dt>Enforcement</dt>
         <dd>{onOff(rules.enforcement)}</dd>
         <dt>Counts launchers</dt>
diff --git a/web/src/test/factories.ts b/web/src/test/factories.ts
index 14b24b9..c84a725 100644
--- a/web/src/test/factories.ts
+++ b/web/src/test/factories.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,6 @@ export function makeBudgetRules(over: Partial<BudgetRules> = {}): BudgetRules {
     warn_at: [3600, 1800, 600, 300],
     demo: false,
     masked_launchers: [],
-    carry_seconds: 0,
     ...over,
   }
 }
diff --git a/web/src/types.ts b/web/src/types.ts
index 60e9d62..23ed307 100644
--- a/web/src/types.ts
+++ b/web/src/types.ts
@@ -173,8 +173,6 @@ export interface BudgetRules {
   warn_at: number[]
   demo: boolean
   masked_launchers: string[]
-  /** Unspent Fri-Sun time inherited by today; already inside budget_seconds. */
-  carry_seconds: number
 }
 
 export interface BudgetSnapshot {