diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 603eea3ed..a3d988003 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ This command executes a set of user-flow definitions against the target URL and
 | **`-a`**, **`--awaitServeStdout`** | `string`  | `.user-flowrc` setting | Waits for stdout from the serve command to start collecting user-flows                                   |  
 | **`-f`**, **`--format`**           | `string`  | `html`, `json` setting | Format of the creates reports                                                                            |  
 | **`-e`**, **`--openReport`**       | `boolean` | `true`                 | Opens browser automatically after the user-flow is captured                                              |  
-| **`-b`**, **`--budget-path`**      | `string`  | `./budget.json`        | Path to the lighthouse `budget.json` file                                                                |  
+| **`-b`**, **`--budget-path`**      | `string`  | n/a                    | Path to the lighthouse `budget.json` file                                                                |  
+| **`-b`**, **`--config-path`**      | `string`  | n/a                    | Path to the lighthouse `config.json` file                                                                |  
 | **`-d`**, **`--dryRun`**           | `boolean` | `false`                | When true the user-flow test will get executed without measures (for fast development)                   |  
 
 > **💡 Pro Tip:**
@@ -224,6 +225,21 @@ This command executes a set of user-flow definitions against the target URL and
 
 The CLI supports the official [user-flow/lighthouse configuration](https://github.com/GoogleChrome/lighthouse/blob/master/docs/configuration.md). 
 
+This configuration options can be used globally with the `configPath` option of the [`collect` command](#collect-command),  
+or per user flow in the [`UserFlowProvider#UserFlowOptions#config`](https://github.com/push-based/user-flow/blob/main/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/types.ts#L39) option.
+
+### Overwrites
+
+As configuration can be placed on multiple levels at the same time we the overwrite order is defined as follows:
+
+There are 2 levels:
+- **global** - can be configured in the `.user-flowrc.json` or as CLI parameter
+- **local** - per file configuration located in `<user-flow-name>.uf.ts`
+
+- **local** `configPath` settings overwrite **global** settings
+    -  **local** `budgets` or `budgetsPath` overwrite **global** settings form `configPath`
+    
+
 ### Executing user-flows (`ufPath`)
 
 To execute a single user-flow pass the user set the ufPath to user-flow file. You and set this ether in the config json file: 
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 9606a29e5..39eab2bbe 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@
         "rimraf": "^3.0.2",
         "ts-jest": "^29.0.3",
         "typescript": "^4.9.3"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": "16.14.3"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/@ampproject/remapping": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 4b261ef1a..d4f6dd6a7 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 {
   "name": "push-based-user-flow-workspace",
   "version": "0.0.0",
+  "engines": {
+    "node": "16.14.3"
+  },
   "license": "MIT",
   "scripts": {
     "nx": "nx",
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/options/types.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/options/types.ts
index f003041b7..f0bce1aa3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/options/types.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/options/types.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ export type CollectRcOptions = {
   // @TODO get better typing for if serveCommand is given await is required
   serveCommand?: string,
   awaitServeStdout?: string;
+  configPath?: string;
 }
 export type CollectCliOnlyOptions = {
   dryRun?: boolean;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/processes/collect-reports.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/processes/collect-reports.ts
index 92519b4d9..3eba165c2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/processes/collect-reports.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/processes/collect-reports.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ import { get as dryRun } from '../../../commands/collect/options/dryRun';
 import { collectFlow, loadFlow, openFlowReport, persistFlow } from '../utils/user-flow';
 import { AssertRcOptions } from '../../assert/options/types';
 import { RcJson } from '../../../types';
+import { CollectArgvOptions } from '../options/types';
+import { readFile } from '../../../core/file';
+import { readConfig } from '../utils/config';
 
 export async function collectReports(cfg: RcJson): Promise<RcJson> {
 
@@ -18,6 +21,7 @@ export async function collectReports(cfg: RcJson): Promise<RcJson> {
     (_: any) => {
 
       provider = normalizeProviderObject(provider);
+      provider = addConfigIfGiven(provider, collect);
       provider = addBudgetsIfGiven(provider, assert);
 
       return collectFlow({ ...collect, dryRun: dryRun() }, { ...provider, path })
@@ -41,6 +45,19 @@ function normalizeProviderObject(provider: UserFlowProvider): UserFlowProvider {
   return provider;
 }
 
+function addConfigIfGiven(provider: UserFlowProvider, collectOptions: CollectArgvOptions = {} as CollectArgvOptions): UserFlowProvider {
+  const { configPath } = collectOptions;
+
+  if (configPath) {
+    logVerbose(`Configuration ${configPath} is used instead of a potential configuration in the user-flow.uf.ts`);
+
+    // @ts-ignore
+    provider.flowOptions.config = readConfig(configPath);
+  }
+
+  return provider;
+}
+
 function addBudgetsIfGiven(provider: UserFlowProvider, assertOptions: AssertRcOptions = {} as AssertRcOptions): UserFlowProvider {
   const { budgetPath, budgets } = assertOptions;
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/config/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/config/index.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..57903c041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/config/index.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { readFile, writeFile } from '../../../../core/file';
+import { logVerbose } from '../../../../core/loggin';
+import { DEFAULT_COLLECT_CONFIG_PATH } from '../../options/configPath.constant';
+import { LhConfigJson } from '../../../../hacky-things/lighthouse';
+
+
+export function readConfig(configPath: string = DEFAULT_COLLECT_CONFIG_PATH): LhConfigJson {
+  const configJson = JSON.parse(readFile(configPath) || '{}');
+  return configJson;
+}
+
+export function writeConfig(config: LhConfigJson, configPath: string = DEFAULT_COLLECT_CONFIG_PATH): void {
+  logVerbose(`Update config under ${configPath}`);
+
+  if (JSON.stringify(readConfig()) !== JSON.stringify(config)) {
+    writeFile(configPath, JSON.stringify(config));
+    logVerbose(`New config ${JSON.stringify(config)}`);
+  } else {
+    logVerbose(`No updates for ${configPath} to save.`);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/params.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/params.ts
index 1aeea5f1a..ec3c7d762 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/params.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/params.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export function getCollectCommandOptionsFromArgv(argv: RcJsonAsArgv): CollectCom
 
   const {
     url, ufPath, serveCommand, awaitServeStdout, dryRun, openReport,
-    outPath, format, budgetPath, budgets
+    outPath, format, budgetPath, budgets, configPath
   } = (argv || {}) as any as (keyof CollectRcOptions & keyof PersistRcOptions);
 
   let collect = {} as CollectArgvOptions;
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ export function getCollectCommandOptionsFromArgv(argv: RcJsonAsArgv): CollectCom
   // optional
   serveCommand && (collect.serveCommand = serveCommand);
   awaitServeStdout && (collect.awaitServeStdout = awaitServeStdout);
+  configPath && (collect.configPath = configPath);
   // cli only
   dryRun !== undefined && (collect.dryRun = Boolean(dryRun));
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/collect-flow.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/collect-flow.ts
index 7b7dcbab3..4ff020f75 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/collect-flow.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/collect-flow.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { logVerbose } from '../../../../core/loggin';
 import * as puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
 import { Browser, Page } from 'puppeteer';
 import { normalize } from 'path';
-import { startFlow, UserFlow } from '../../../../hacky-things/lighthouse';
+import { LhConfigJson, startFlow, UserFlow } from '../../../../hacky-things/lighthouse';
 import { get as dryRun } from '../../../../commands/collect/options/dryRun';
 import { UserFlowMock } from './user-flow.mock';
 import * as Config from 'lighthouse/types/config';
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import Budget from 'lighthouse/types/lhr/budget';
 import { readBudgets } from '../../../assert/utils/budgets';
 import { detectCliMode } from '../../../../global/cli-mode/cli-mode';
 import { CollectArgvOptions } from '../../options/types';
+import { readConfig } from '../config';
 
 export async function collectFlow(
   cliOption: CollectArgvOptions,
@@ -24,8 +25,13 @@ export async function collectFlow(
     launchOptions
   } = userFlowProvider;
 
-  const { config, ...rest } = providerFlowOptions;
-  const flowOptions = { ...rest, config: parseUserFlowOptionsConfig(providerFlowOptions.config) };
+  let { config, ...rest } = providerFlowOptions;
+  let mergedLhConfig = { ...config }
+  if(cliOption?.configPath) {
+    mergedLhConfig = {...mergedLhConfig, ...readConfig(cliOption.configPath)};
+  }
+
+  const flowOptions = { ...rest, config: parseUserFlowOptionsConfig(mergedLhConfig) };
 
   // object containing the options for puppeteer/chromium
   launchOptions = launchOptions || {
@@ -59,14 +65,14 @@ export async function collectFlow(
 }
 
 
-function parseUserFlowOptionsConfig(flowOptionsConfig?: UserFlowProvider['flowOptions']['config']): Config.default.Json {
+function parseUserFlowOptionsConfig(flowOptionsConfig?: LhConfigJson): Config.default.Json {
   flowOptionsConfig = flowOptionsConfig || {} as any;
   // @ts-ignore
   flowOptionsConfig?.extends || (flowOptionsConfig.extends = 'lighthouse:default');
 
   // if budgets are given
   if (flowOptionsConfig?.settings?.budgets) {
-    logVerbose('format given budgets')
+    logVerbose('Use budgets from UserFlowProvider objects under the flowOptions.settings.budgets property');
     let budgets: Budget[] = flowOptionsConfig?.settings?.budgets;
     budgets && (budgets = Array.isArray(budgets) ? budgets : readBudgets(budgets));
     flowOptionsConfig.settings.budgets = budgets;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/user-flow.mock.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/user-flow.mock.ts
index 8a4eea106..69424c64f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/user-flow.mock.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/commands/collect/utils/user-flow/user-flow.mock.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ import FlowResult from 'lighthouse/types/lhr/flow';
 import { StepOptions, UserFlowOptions } from './types';
 
 const dummyFlowResult: (cfg: UserFlowOptions) => FlowResult = (cfg: UserFlowOptions): FlowResult => {
-  const budgets = cfg?.config?.settings?.budgets;
+  const config = cfg?.config || { };
+  logVerbose('dummy config used:', config)
   const report = {
     name: cfg.name,
     steps: [
@@ -12,9 +13,7 @@ const dummyFlowResult: (cfg: UserFlowOptions) => FlowResult = (cfg: UserFlowOpti
         name: 'Navigation report (127.0.0.1/)',
         lhr: {
           fetchTime: new Date().toISOString(),
-          configSettings: {
-            // "budgets": [] // budgets from configurations
-          },
+          configSettings: config,
           audits: {
             // "performance-budget": {},
             // "timing-budget": {}
@@ -23,6 +22,11 @@ const dummyFlowResult: (cfg: UserFlowOptions) => FlowResult = (cfg: UserFlowOpti
       }
     ]
   };
+  if (config) {
+    report.steps[0].lhr.configSettings = config;
+  }
+
+  const budgets = config?.settings?.budgets;
   if (budgets) {
     report.steps[0].lhr.configSettings.budgets = budgets;
     report.steps[0].lhr.audits['performance-budget'] = {};
@@ -67,6 +71,7 @@ export class UserFlowMock {
     logVerbose(`flow#navigate: ${stepName || requestor}`);
     return this.page.goto(requestor);
   }
+
   constructor(page: Page, cfg: UserFlowOptions) {
     this.page = page;
     this.cfg = cfg;
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/global/rc-json/index.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/global/rc-json/index.ts
index 5d1aabf7c..b325404e8 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/global/rc-json/index.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/global/rc-json/index.ts
@@ -4,18 +4,18 @@ import { RcJson } from '../../types';
 import { globalOptions } from '../options';
 
 export function readRcConfig(rcPath: string = ''): RcJson {
-  const configPath = rcPath || globalOptions.getRcPath();
-  const repoConfigJson = readFile<RcJson>(configPath, { ext: 'json' }) || {};
+  rcPath = rcPath || globalOptions.getRcPath();
+  const repoConfigJson = readFile<RcJson>(rcPath, { ext: 'json' }) || {};
   return repoConfigJson;
 }
 
 export function updateRcConfig(config: RcJson, rcPath: string = ''): void {
-  const configPath = rcPath || globalOptions.getRcPath();
+  rcPath = rcPath || globalOptions.getRcPath();
   // NOTICE: this is needed for better git flow.
   // Touch a file only if needed
   if (JSON.stringify(readRcConfig()) !== JSON.stringify(config)) {
-    writeFile(configPath, JSON.stringify(config));
-    logVerbose(`Update config under ${configPath} to`, config);
+    writeFile(rcPath, JSON.stringify(config));
+    logVerbose(`Update config under ${rcPath} to`, config);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/lib/hacky-things/lighthouse.ts b/packages/cli/src/lib/hacky-things/lighthouse.ts
index f8bafb34a..3dc1a3290 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/lib/hacky-things/lighthouse.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/lib/hacky-things/lighthouse.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@
 *
 * */
 
+// @ts-ignore
+import { default as LhConfig } from 'lighthouse/types/config';
+export type LhConfigJson = LhConfig.Json;
+
 // @ts-ignore
 export {Util} from 'lighthouse/lighthouse-core/util-commonjs';
 // @ts-ignore
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/commands/collect/collect.budgets.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/commands/collect/collect.budgets.test.ts
index 48e87ec79..05f762cd7 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/commands/collect/collect.budgets.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/commands/collect/collect.budgets.test.ts
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ describe('$collect() sandbox+NO-assets with RC()', () => {
   afterEach(async () => await staticPrj.teardown());
 
   it('should NOT log budgets info', async () => {
-    const { exitCode, stdout, stderr } = await staticPrj.$collect({});
+    const { exitCode, stdout, stderr } = await staticPrj.$collect();
 
     expect(stderr).toBe('');
     expectNoBudgetsFileExistLog(stdout);
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ let staticWBudgetPathPrjCfg: UserFlowProjectConfig = {
   create: {
     ...STATIC_PRJ_CFG.create,
     [LH_NAVIGATION_BUDGETS_NAME]: LH_NAVIGATION_BUDGETS
-  }
+  },
+  delete: (STATIC_PRJ_CFG?.delete || []).concat([LH_NAVIGATION_BUDGETS_NAME])
 };
 
 describe('$collect() sandbox+assets with RC({budgetPath}))', () => {
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/commands/collect/collect.configPath.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/commands/collect/collect.configPath.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f99aea943
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/commands/collect/collect.configPath.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+import { UserFlowCliProject, UserFlowCliProjectFactory } from '../../user-flow-cli-project/user-flow-cli';
+import { STATIC_PRJ_CFG } from '../../fixtures/sandbox/static';
+import { UserFlowProjectConfig } from '../../user-flow-cli-project/types';
+import { STATIC_JSON_REPORT_NAME, STATIC_RC_JSON } from '../../fixtures/rc-files/static';
+import { DEFAULT_RC_NAME } from '../../../src/lib/constants';
+import {
+  expectConfigPathUsageLog,
+  expectNoConfigFileExistLog,
+  expectResultsToIncludeConfig
+} from '../../user-flow-cli-project/expect';
+import { LH_CONFIG, LH_CONFIG_NAME } from '../../fixtures/config/lh-config';
+import { expectCollectCfgToContain } from '../../utils/cli-expectations';
+
+let staticPrj: UserFlowCliProject;
+
+describe('$collect() sandbox+NO-assets with RC()', () => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    if (!staticPrj) {
+      staticPrj = await UserFlowCliProjectFactory.create(STATIC_PRJ_CFG);
+    }
+    await staticPrj.setup();
+  });
+  afterEach(async () => await staticPrj.teardown());
+
+  it('should NOT log configPath info', async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout, stderr } = await staticPrj.$collect();
+
+    expect(stderr).toBe('');
+    expectNoConfigFileExistLog(stdout);
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+  });
+
+});
+
+let staticWConfigAssetsPrj: UserFlowCliProject;
+let staticWConfigPathPrjCfg: UserFlowProjectConfig = {
+  ...STATIC_PRJ_CFG,
+  rcFile: {
+    [DEFAULT_RC_NAME]: {
+      ...STATIC_RC_JSON,
+      collect: {
+        ...STATIC_RC_JSON.collect,
+        configPath: LH_CONFIG_NAME
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  create: {
+    ...STATIC_PRJ_CFG.create,
+    [LH_CONFIG_NAME]: LH_CONFIG
+  },
+  delete: [LH_CONFIG_NAME].concat(STATIC_PRJ_CFG?.delete || [])
+};
+
+describe('$collect() sandbox+assets with RC({configPath}))', () => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    if (!staticWConfigAssetsPrj) {
+      staticWConfigAssetsPrj = await UserFlowCliProjectFactory.create(staticWConfigPathPrjCfg);
+    }
+    await staticWConfigAssetsPrj.setup();
+  });
+ afterEach(async () => await staticWConfigAssetsPrj.teardown());
+
+  it('should load configPath from RC file', async () => {
+    const { exitCode, stdout, stderr } = await staticWConfigAssetsPrj.$collect({
+      configPath: LH_CONFIG_NAME
+    });
+
+
+    expect(stderr).toBe('');
+    expectCollectCfgToContain(stdout, {configPath: LH_CONFIG_NAME})
+    expectConfigPathUsageLog(stdout, LH_CONFIG_NAME);
+    expectResultsToIncludeConfig(staticWConfigAssetsPrj, STATIC_JSON_REPORT_NAME.split('.json').pop()+'');
+    expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+  }, 60_000);
+
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/fixtures/config/lh-config.ts b/packages/cli/tests/fixtures/config/lh-config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cae018e33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/fixtures/config/lh-config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import { LhConfigJson } from '../../../src/lib/hacky-things/lighthouse';
+
+export const LH_CONFIG_NAME = 'config.json';
+export const LH_CONFIG: LhConfigJson = {
+  extends: 'lighthouse:default',
+  settings: {
+    /** If present, the run should only conduct this list of audits. */
+    onlyAudits: ['lcp-lazy-loaded']
+    /** If present, the run should only conduct this list of categories. */
+    //'only-categories': ['performance']
+  }
+};
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/expect.ts b/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/expect.ts
index 7682ca749..6ac8ac27f 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/expect.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/expect.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import { PROMPT_PERSIST_OUT_PATH } from '../../src/lib/commands/collect/options/
 import { PROMPT_PERSIST_FORMAT } from '../../src/lib/commands/collect/options/format.constant';
 import { LH_NAVIGATION_BUDGETS_NAME } from '../fixtures/budget/lh-navigation-budget';
 import { DEFAULT_RC_NAME } from '../../src/lib/constants';
+import { ConfigSettings } from 'lighthouse/types/lhr/settings';
+import { LH_CONFIG, LH_CONFIG_NAME } from '../fixtures/config/lh-config';
 
 export function expectCollectCommandNotToCreateLogsFromMockInStdout(
   prj: UserFlowCliProject,
@@ -95,6 +97,24 @@ export function expectResultsToIncludeBudgets(prj: UserFlowCliProject, reportNam
   expect(report.steps[0].lhr.audits['timing-budget']).toBeDefined();
 }
 
+export function expectResultsToIncludeConfig(prj: UserFlowCliProject, reportName: string, config: string = LH_CONFIG_NAME) {
+  const report = prj.readOutput(reportName) as any;
+  const resolvedConfig = prj.readConfig(config);
+
+  expect(report.steps[0].lhr.configSettings).toEqual(resolvedConfig);
+
+}
+
+export function expectConfigPathUsageLog(stdout: string, configPath: string = '') {
+  expect(stdout).toContain(`Configuration ${configPath} is used instead of a potential configuration in the user-flow.uf.ts`);
+}
+
+export function expectNoConfigFileExistLog(stdout: string) {
+  expect(stdout).not.toContain(`CLI options --configPath or .user-flowrc.json configuration`);
+  expect(stdout).not.toContain('.user-flowrc.json configuration is used instead of a potential configuration in the user flow');
+  expect(stdout).not.toContain('Use config from UserFlowProvider objects under the flowOptions property');
+}
+
 export function expectCliToCreateRc(
   prj: UserFlowCliProject,
   json: RcJson,
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/user-flow-cli.ts b/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/user-flow-cli.ts
index d24262a84..46df1a935 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/user-flow-cli.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/user-flow-cli-project/user-flow-cli.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ import { LH_NAVIGATION_BUDGETS_NAME } from '../fixtures/budget/lh-navigation-bud
 import Budget from 'lighthouse/types/lhr/budget';
 import { TestResult } from '../cli-testing/process';
 import { DEFAULT_PERSIST_OUT_PATH } from '../../src/lib/commands/collect/options/outPath.constant';
+import { LH_CONFIG_NAME } from '../fixtures/config/lh-config';
+import { LhConfigJson } from '../../src/lib/hacky-things/lighthouse';
 
 export class UserFlowCliProjectFactory {
   static async create(cfg: UserFlowProjectConfig): Promise<UserFlowCliProject> {
@@ -90,12 +92,20 @@ export class UserFlowCliProject extends CliProject {
   }
 
   readBudget(budgetName:string = LH_NAVIGATION_BUDGETS_NAME): Budget[] {
-    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(this.root, budgetName)) as any);
+    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(this.budgetPath(budgetName)) as any);
   }
   budgetPath(budgetName:string = LH_NAVIGATION_BUDGETS_NAME): string {
     return path.join(this.root, budgetName);
   }
 
+  readConfig(configName:string = LH_CONFIG_NAME): LhConfigJson {
+    return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(this.configPath(configName)) as any);
+  }
+  configPath(configName:string = LH_CONFIG_NAME): string {
+    return path.join(this.root, configName);
+  }
+
+
   readOutput(userFlowName: string, rcFileName: string = DEFAULT_RC_NAME): string | {} {
     const outputFiles = fs.readdirSync(this.outputPath());
     const reportName = outputFiles.find((name) => name.includes(name)) || userFlowName;
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/utils/cli-expectations.ts b/packages/cli/tests/utils/cli-expectations.ts
index 83458ba4a..732382511 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/utils/cli-expectations.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/utils/cli-expectations.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ export function expectCollectCfgToContain(stdout: string, cliParams: {}) {
       case 'serveCommand':
       case 'awaitServeStdout':
       case 'budgetPath':
+      case 'configPath':
         expect(stdout).toContain(`${k}: '${v}'`);
         break;
       case 'format':
@@ -106,18 +107,18 @@ export function expectOutputRcInStdout(stdout: string, cfg: RcJson) {
 
 export function expectBudgetsPathUsageLog(stdout: string, budgetPath: string = '') {
   expect(stdout).toContain(`Collect options budgetPath is used over CLI param or .user-flowrc.json. Configuration ${budgetPath} is used instead of a potential configuration in the user-flow.uf.ts`);
-  expect(stdout).toContain('format given budgets');
+  expect(stdout).toContain('Use budgets from UserFlowProvider objects under the flowOptions.settings.budgets property');
 }
 
 export function expectBudgetsUsageLog(stdout: string, budgets: Budget[] = []) {
   expect(stdout).toContain('Collect options budgets is used over CLI param or .user-flowrc.json. Configuration ${budgets} is used instead of a potential configuration in the user-flow.uf.ts');
-  expect(stdout).toContain('format given budgets');
+  expect(stdout).toContain('Use budgets from UserFlowProvider objects under the flowOptions.settings.budgets property');
 }
 
 export function expectNoBudgetsFileExistLog(stdout: string) {
   expect(stdout).not.toContain(`CLI options --budgetPath or .user-flowrc.json configuration`);
   expect(stdout).not.toContain('.user-flowrc.json configuration is used instead of a potential configuration in the user flow');
-  expect(stdout).not.toContain('format given budgets');
+  expect(stdout).not.toContain('Use budgets from UserFlowProvider objects under the flowOptions.settings.budgets property');
 }
 
 export function old_expectResultsToIncludeBudgets(resultPath: string, budgets: Budget[] | string) {