diff --git a/src/packages/frontend/project/explorer/explorer.tsx b/src/packages/frontend/project/explorer/explorer.tsx
index 456af78ce6..0a9a64b5b1 100644
--- a/src/packages/frontend/project/explorer/explorer.tsx
+++ b/src/packages/frontend/project/explorer/explorer.tsx
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ const Explorer0 = rclass(
               flex: "0 0 auto",
               display: "flex",
               flexDirection: "column",
-              padding: "5px 5px 0 5px",
+              padding: "2px 2px 0 2px",
             }}
           >
             {this.render_error()}
diff --git a/src/packages/frontend/project/page/page.tsx b/src/packages/frontend/project/page/page.tsx
index bde04739ba..1cf6635f6c 100644
--- a/src/packages/frontend/project/page/page.tsx
+++ b/src/packages/frontend/project/page/page.tsx
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ export const ProjectPage: React.FC<Props> = (props: Props) => {
     // CSS note: the paddingTop is here to not make the tabs touch the top row (looks funny)
     // this was part of the container-content div, which makes little sense for e.g. the banner bars
     return (
-      <div style={{ display: "flex", margin: "0", paddingTop: "3px" }}>
+      <div style={{ display: "flex", height: "36px" }}>
         <HomePageButton
           project_id={project_id}
           active={active_project_tab == "home"}
@@ -381,10 +381,7 @@ export const ProjectPage: React.FC<Props> = (props: Props) => {
   return (
     <ProjectContext.Provider value={projectCtx}>
       <div className="container-content" style={PAGE_STYLE}>
-        <StudentPayUpgrade
-          project_id={project_id}
-          style={{ marginTop: "5px" }}
-        />
+        <StudentPayUpgrade project_id={project_id} />
         <AnonymousName project_id={project_id} />
         <DiskSpaceWarning project_id={project_id} />
         <RamWarning project_id={project_id} />
diff --git a/src/packages/frontend/project/trial-banner.tsx b/src/packages/frontend/project/trial-banner.tsx
index 61bc3af414..dc9a47cdf5 100644
--- a/src/packages/frontend/project/trial-banner.tsx
+++ b/src/packages/frontend/project/trial-banner.tsx
@@ -58,9 +58,6 @@ export const ALERT_STYLE: CSS = {
   paddingRight: "5px",
   paddingBottom: "5px",
   marginBottom: 0,
-  // this is to cancel out the margin between file tabs and project tabs, which
-  // isn't right for a banner.
-  marginTop: "-5px",
   fontSize: "9pt",
   borderRadius: 0,
 } as const;
diff --git a/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/instructor-banner.tsx b/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/instructor-banner.tsx
index 8a0779e515..3b62050a0f 100644
--- a/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/instructor-banner.tsx
+++ b/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/instructor-banner.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export default function PaySoon({ when, purchaseInfo, paid, course }: Props) {
   );
 
   return (
-    <div style={{ margin: "0 2.5px" }}>
+    <div>
       <Collapse>
         <Collapse.Panel
           key="it"
diff --git a/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/pay-soon.tsx b/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/pay-soon.tsx
index fcfe20cf72..62f965611e 100644
--- a/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/pay-soon.tsx
+++ b/src/packages/frontend/purchases/student-pay/pay-soon.tsx
@@ -25,12 +25,21 @@ export default function PaySoon({
     return null;
   }
   return (
-    <div style={{ margin: "0 2.5px" }}>
+    <div>
       <Collapse>
         <Collapse.Panel
           key="it"
           header=<>
-            Course Fee: Please pay the course fee{" "}
+            Course Fee:{" "}
+            <b>
+              <a
+                onClick={() => {
+                  setOpen(true);
+                }}
+              >
+                Please pay the course fee
+              </a>
+            </b>{" "}
             <Cost purchaseInfo={purchaseInfo} /> to upgrade this project.{" "}
             <b>
               Due: <TimeAgo date={when} />.