diff --git a/tests/test_trials.py b/tests/test_trials.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..21df0fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_trials.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+import pytest
+from datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta
+from unittest.mock import patch
+from tracker import UsageTracker, DEFAULT_TRIAL_BUDGET
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def tracker(tmp_path):
+    return UsageTracker(db_path=str(tmp_path / "test.db"))
+
+
+def test_start_trial_initializes(tracker):
+    tracker.start_trial("Some-Pack")
+    trials = tracker.get_trials()
+    assert len(trials) == 1
+    t = trials[0]
+    assert t["package"] == "Some-Pack"
+    assert t["unused_boot_days"] == 0
+    assert t["budget"] == DEFAULT_TRIAL_BUDGET
+    assert t["days_remaining"] == DEFAULT_TRIAL_BUDGET
+    assert t["expired"] is False
+
+
+def test_start_trial_is_idempotent_resets(tracker):
+    tracker.start_trial("Some-Pack")
+    tracker.start_trial("Some-Pack")
+    assert len(tracker.get_trials()) == 1
diff --git a/tracker.py b/tracker.py
index a854a72..ef27109 100644
--- a/tracker.py
+++ b/tracker.py
@@ -48,6 +48,15 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS model_usage (
     last_seen TEXT NOT NULL
 );
 
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS trial_packages (
+    package TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    enabled_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+    last_use_day TEXT NOT NULL,
+    last_boot_day TEXT NOT NULL,
+    unused_boot_days INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0,
+    budget INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 7
+);
+
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_node_usage_package ON node_usage(package);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_prompt_log_timestamp ON prompt_log(timestamp);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_model_usage_type ON model_usage(model_type);
@@ -62,6 +71,9 @@ EXCLUDED_PACKAGES = {
 }
 
 
+DEFAULT_TRIAL_BUDGET = 7
+
+
 def _classify_age(timestamp, one_month_ago, two_months_ago, recent_status):
     """Classify an ISO timestamp into a removal tier.
 
@@ -375,6 +387,51 @@ class UsageTracker:
             finally:
                 conn.close()
 
+    def start_trial(self, package, budget=DEFAULT_TRIAL_BUDGET):
+        """Begin/restart a temporary-enable trial. The enable day is not counted."""
+        now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+        today = now.date().isoformat()
+        with self._lock:
+            self._ensure_db()
+            conn = self._connect()
+            try:
+                conn.execute(
+                    """INSERT INTO trial_packages
+                       (package, enabled_at, last_use_day, last_boot_day, unused_boot_days, budget)
+                       VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, 0, ?)
+                       ON CONFLICT(package) DO UPDATE SET
+                           enabled_at = excluded.enabled_at,
+                           last_use_day = excluded.last_use_day,
+                           last_boot_day = excluded.last_boot_day,
+                           unused_boot_days = 0,
+                           budget = excluded.budget""",
+                    (package, now.isoformat(), today, today, budget),
+                )
+                conn.commit()
+            finally:
+                conn.close()
+
+    def get_trials(self):
+        """Return trial rows with computed days_remaining/expired."""
+        with self._lock:
+            self._ensure_db()
+            conn = self._connect()
+            try:
+                conn.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+                rows = conn.execute(
+                    "SELECT package, enabled_at, last_use_day, last_boot_day, "
+                    "unused_boot_days, budget FROM trial_packages"
+                ).fetchall()
+            finally:
+                conn.close()
+        result = []
+        for r in rows:
+            d = dict(r)
+            d["days_remaining"] = max(0, d["budget"] - d["unused_boot_days"])
+            d["expired"] = d["unused_boot_days"] >= d["budget"]
+            result.append(d)
+        return result
+
     def reset(self):
         """Clear all tracked data."""
         with self._lock: