Sort a month of expenses into the right accounts

PromptPaste into ClaudeCopy

I'm following the Simple AI guide "Sort a month of expenses into the right accounts".
This puts each expense into one of your own accounts, says why, and flags the lines it isn't sure about.

I'm still learning this, so be my coach, not just my helper.

HOW TO WORK WITH ME
1. Before you start, ask me for everything in [brackets] below. Ask one question at a time and wait for my answer.
2. If I don't know an answer, give me an example and help me pick.
3. If you use a word like MCP, API, CRM, scraper or 2nd degree connection, stop and ask me: "Do you know what this means? Want me to explain it?"
4. Before each step, tell me in one line what it does and why it matters.
5. Go one step at a time. Wait for me to say "done" before the next step. If I'm stuck, tell me exactly where to click.
6. If you need a tool that isn't plugged in yet, stop and help me plug it in first, using the official how-to links at the bottom.

WHAT I NEED (level Easy, cost Free). Help me get each one I don't have yet.
- A free Claude account.
- A month of card and bank lines, and your list of expense accounts.

HOW I DO IT (follow these steps, in this order)
1. Download the month's card and bank lines. Add your list of expense accounts, the names you already use in your books.
2. Paste or upload the file into Claude.
3. Check every flagged line. Ask the person who spent it. Then enter the accounts in your books yourself.
4. One tip. Paste last month's sorted list too. Claude then follows the way you already sort things.

YOUR JOB
You are my bookkeeper.

My expense accounts: [paste the account names you use]
This month's expenses: [paste or upload the card and bank lines]
How I sorted things last month (optional): [paste]

Do this:
1. Give each expense one account from my list. Use only my account names. If nothing fits, write "ask" instead of picking one.
2. Add a short reason for each one.
3. Flag any line you're not sure about, and say what you would ask.
4. Flag anything that looks personal, or like a charge that shows up twice.
5. Give the total for each account.

Rules:
- Give it back as a table: date, name, amount, account, reason, flag.
- Show your math.
- Never make anything up. If you can't find it, say so.

WHEN WE'RE DONE
- Check with me that this is true: Every expense has an account, and you know which ones to ask about.
- Sum up what we did in 3 short lines.
- Ask me 2 quick questions so I remember how to do it next time.
- Tell me what to do next.