Tracking subscriptions and recurring expenses by hand is slow and error‑prone. This tutorial shows how to use Claude for Chrome to scan Gmail and automatically log expenses in Google Sheets in minutes.
Install Claude for Chrome
Install the Claude Chrome extension, sign in, and ensure it’s enabled. Claude works on browser tabs you explicitly allow.
Set Up Expense
Create a fresh Google Sheet and add the following column headers:
- Expense Title
- Company
- Amount
- Date
- Renewal Date
Once done, copy the Google Sheet link.
Visit Gmail Inbox
Launch Gmail in a fresh Chrome tab and keep it active. There’s no need to manually search or filter emails—Claude will handle that.
Connect Claude
Tap Extensions → Claude from the Chrome toolbar. Make sure the Gmail tab appears highlighted, confirming Claude can read and interact with it.
Provide Clear Instruction
Use a direct and specific prompt so Claude knows exactly what to do. For example:
Prompt:
“Scan my Gmail inbox for subscription or recurring expense emails from [Month, Year]. Extract the expense name, company, amount, date, and renewal details. Add each item as a new row in [Google Sheet link], and include a total at the bottom.”
Allow Claude to Process
Claude will go through your inbox and populate the sheet automatically. This usually takes 10–15 minutes, depending on how many emails you have. If it stops early, just ask it to continue.
Save Prompt for Reuse
To avoid repeating this setup every month, save the prompt as a shortcut:
- Type
/in Claude - Choose Create shortcut
- Give it a clear name like “Monthly Expense Tracking”