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Track my spending by text

Each time you spend, you send one short text, and your assistant keeps the running list.

Suggested tools

You can set these up yourself. Get the app, follow the steps, then copy the prompt.

• Your bank's transaction download

  Free

  Most banks let you save a list of what you spent as a file from their website.

  1. Sign in to your bank's website yourself. A computer is easiest.
  2. Open the account and look for Download, Export or Statements. Pick the dates. Choose CSV if it is offered, or PDF.
  3. Open the file and check that it does not show your full account number. If it does, tell your assistant before you upload anything.
  4. Open your files page (text /home to your assistant) and upload the file.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • I want you to sort my spending from a file I download from my bank. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: I sign in to my bank myself, find Download, Export or Statements, pick last month, choose CSV or PDF, check it does not show my full account number, and upload it to my files page. Never ask for my bank login or account number. Then sort the transactions into categories and show me the total for each.

    Copy

  It is a one time copy. Your assistant does not see new spending until you upload a new file, and it never signs in to your bank.

• Copilot Money

  $13 per month or $95 per year, after a free trial month

  An iPhone app that gathers your spending in one place and sorts it for you.

  Download for iPhoneOpen the website

  1. Set up Copilot yourself. The bank link stays inside Copilot. Your assistant never gets it.
  2. On your iPhone, open Settings in Copilot and scroll down to Account. Tap Export your transactions.
  3. Tap the share button and save the file to Files.
  4. Open your files page (text /home to your assistant) and upload the file.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • I use Copilot Money and I want you to read my spending. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: in Copilot I open Settings, scroll to Account, tap Export your transactions, save the file to Files, and upload it to my files page. Then show me this month by category with totals and point out anything that looks like a repeat charge.

    Copy

  There is no Android app and no free plan. The file shows the last digits of each account, not the full number.

• Rocket Money

  Free to use. Saving your transactions as a file needs Premium, which is $7 to $14 per month (you pick the amount)

  An app for iPhone and Android that shows your spending and your subscriptions.

  Download for iPhoneDownload for AndroidOpen the website

  1. Free way: open the spending screen in the app, take a screenshot and text it to your assistant.
  2. With Premium: open Transactions, tap the menu at the top right, pick CSV Download, choose the dates and tap Export.
  3. Rocket Money emails you a link. Open that email on a computer and download the file. It does not download on a phone.
  4. Open your files page (text /home to your assistant) and upload the file.

  Copy this prompt and give it to your assistant

  • I use Rocket Money and I want you to explain my spending. Walk me through it one step at a time and wait for me after each step: open the spending screen in the app, take a screenshot and send it here. Then tell me in plain words where most of my money went and list my subscriptions with what each one costs.

    Copy

  The free plan does not make a file, and the paid file has to be downloaded on a computer. Your assistant cannot cancel subscriptions for you.

What to text

• Start a spending log for me.

  Copy

• Spent 42 on gas.

  Copy

• Spent 18.50 on lunch, business.

  Copy

• How much have I spent on food this week?

  Copy

• Show me this month by category.

  Copy

Steps

1. Text: "Start a spending log for me."
2. Each time you pay for something, text the amount and what it was for.
3. Add "business" or "personal" if you want to keep them apart.
4. Ask for a total any time. For example: "How much on gas this month?"
5. At the end of the month, ask for the list by category. Check it against your bank statement.

Example conversation

Make it stick

• Text right when you pay. It takes five seconds. Later, you will forget.
• Missed a few days? Do not try to catch up. Just start again today.
• Track one thing first, like food or gas. Add more when it feels easy.