diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index 29b7e16..a29ee80 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -4171,16 +4171,55 @@ async def budget_notice_sweep(send: bool = False) -> dict:
             "would_notify": len(preview), "notices": preview}
 
 
+async def budget_notice_test(dest: str) -> dict:
+    """Email one sample low-balance letter to `dest`, using that member's real numbers.
+
+    Deliberately does NOT write to budget_notices: a test must not consume the real
+    once-per-crossing latch, or reviewing the copy would silence the actual notice.
+    Works while BUDGET_NOTICES is off, so copy can be reviewed before arming anything.
+    """
+    conn = get_db()
+    row = conn.execute("SELECT slug FROM members WHERE email = ?", (dest,)).fetchone()
+    name = ((row[0] or "").strip() if row else "") or "there"
+    conn.close()
+
+    budget, spend = 15.0, 13.34                     # sample numbers if they aren't a member
+    if row:
+        team_id = await litellm_team_id_for_email(dest)
+        stats = (get_team_budget_from_db(team_id) or {}) if team_id else {}
+        if stats.get("max_budget"):
+            budget = float(stats["max_budget"])
+            spend = float(stats.get("spend") or 0.0)
+
+    remaining = budget - spend
+    subject, text_body, html_body = budget_notice_email(
+        name, spend, budget, remaining, credit_pack_url()
+    )
+    ok = send_email(dest, subject, text_body, html_body)
+    return {
+        "mode": "test", "to": dest, "sent": bool(ok), "subject": subject,
+        "rendered": {"name": name, "spend": round(spend, 2), "budget": round(budget, 2),
+                     "remaining": round(remaining, 2)},
+        "note": "no ledger row written — the real once-per-crossing latch is untouched",
+    }
+
+
 @app.post("/admin/budget-notices")
 @limiter.limit("10/minute")
-async def admin_budget_notices(request: Request, mode: str = "dryrun"):
-    """Preview (default) or send the monthly budget notices.
+async def admin_budget_notices(request: Request, mode: str = "dryrun", to: str | None = None):
+    """Preview (default), send, or email a single sample.
 
-    Authenticated by X-Admin-Token. `mode=dryrun` never emails; `mode=send`
-    requires BUDGET_NOTICES=on and refuses otherwise, so a preview can be run at
-    any time without arming the sender.
+    Authenticated by X-Admin-Token. `mode=dryrun` never emails; `mode=send` requires
+    BUDGET_NOTICES=on and refuses otherwise; `mode=test&to=<address>` emails one sample
+    using that member's real numbers so the copy can be read in a mail client first.
+    A test works while the flag is off and leaves no trace in the ledger.
     """
     _verify_admin_token(request)
+    if mode == "test":
+        dest = (to or "").strip()
+        if not dest:
+            return {"refused": "mode=test needs &to=<address>"}
+        return await budget_notice_test(dest)
     if mode == "send":
         if budget_notices_enabled() != "on":
             return {"refused": f"BUDGET_NOTICES is '{budget_notices_enabled()}', not 'on'"