Track Daily Expenses with a Phone

More in this group

Track Cash Expenses Immediately After Purchase

When I pay for a purchase in cash, I want to record the amount, category, purchase location, and comment from my phone immediately so that the transaction is not lost and does not have to be reconstructed at the end of the month.

Track Shared Household Expenses

When several family members pay for shared purchases, I want each person to add the amount, category, and payer to one spreadsheet quickly so that we can see shared expenses without merging notes and banking apps.

Monitor Recurring Payments and Subscriptions

When I pay rent, utilities, insurance, or a subscription, I want to record the amount and next payment date so that I can see recurring expenses and notice upcoming charges in advance.

Situation

When I pay for a purchase or spend cash, I want to record the amount, category, date, and comment quickly from my phone so that transactions are not lost and the budget spreadsheet stays accurate.

Spreadsheet Data Entry vs Alternative Ways to Solve This

Alternative	Limitations	Why SDE is better
Expense notes in a notebook	Transactions are easy to forget, categories are entered inconsistently, and totals must be calculated manually	SDE lets you record the amount, category, date, and comment immediately after the purchase without re-entering data; it uses number fields, category lists, and date autofill.
Direct entry in Excel or Google Sheets from a phone	On a small screen it is difficult to find the correct row and column, and formulas, previous records, or the spreadsheet structure can be changed accidentally	SDE separates data entry from spreadsheet editing: the user sees only the required fields, and values are placed automatically in the columns configured for the “Track Daily Expenses with a Phone” use case.
Banking app	Shows only transactions from a specific bank and may not allow custom categories and comments	SDE collects all required values in one guided form and immediately creates a structured row for the “Track Daily Expenses with a Phone” use case.
Personal budgeting app	May require account connections, a subscription, or use of a built-in structure instead of your own spreadsheet	SDE can be launched without a full implementation: create a form, connect Google Sheets, and use only the fields required for the “Track Daily Expenses with a Phone” use case.

How to Set Up SDE with Google Sheets

1

Install the app and sign in with Google

Download SDE, sign in with Google, and grant access to your Google account so the app can work with your Google Sheets.

Install SDE on your smartphone.
Open the app.
Sign in or create an account with Google.
Open Settings.
Connect the Google account you want to use with Google Sheets.
Confirm access.

The app is ready to work with Google Sheets.

2

Create a spreadsheet and connect a form

Prepare a Google Sheet and create a new SDE form that will send data to the required worksheet.

Create a Google Sheet.
Add a worksheet for collecting data.
Tap “Create form” in SDE.
Enter the form name.
Select Google Sheets as the storage destination.
Choose the required spreadsheet and worksheet with the assistant, or paste the link manually.

The form is connected to Google Sheets and ready for field configuration.

3

Add form fields and map them to spreadsheet columns

Configure the fields users will complete on their phones and specify which Google Sheets column should store each value.

Open the form field editor.
Add the required fields, such as date, barcode, item name, quantity, and location.
Select the appropriate data type for every field.
Specify the destination column for each field: A, B, C, and so on.
Mark required fields when needed.
Save the form.

The form is fully configured and ready for data entry.

4

Open the form and send data to the spreadsheet

Open the completed form, fill it in on your phone, and send the first record. The data will appear in Google Sheets immediately.

Open the saved form.
Complete the fields or scan a code.
Tap “Submit”.
Wait for the successful submission confirmation.
Open Google Sheets and check the new data row.

The data was submitted successfully and appeared in the spreadsheet.

Template

Ready-to-use Google Sheets template: Daily Expenses

Copy the ready-made spreadsheet to your Google Drive, connect it to an SDE form, and start collecting data from your phone. The template already includes the required columns, formulas (where needed), filters, and a sample row.

Open template

Result

EXPENSES ARE NOT LOST

Record every transaction immediately after payment.

the amount and date reach the spreadsheet quickly
categories remain consistent
data is ready for budget analysis

FAQ

Which fields are needed to track expenses?

Amount, category, date, payment method, account, and comment.

How do I avoid different names for the same category?

Use a list field with predefined expense categories.

Can the date be filled automatically?

Yes. Enable current-date autofill for the date field.

How do I track cash and several bank cards?

Add an Account or Payment method list field.

Can I record expenses without internet?

Yes. The record is saved in the queue and sent to the spreadsheet when a connection becomes available.