Set Up an Expense Tracking System in Under 10 Minutes

You don't need fancy software. Here's how to build a working expense tracking system using Google Sheets in under 10 minutes. Total cost: zero.

The Setup (10 Minutes)

Minutes 1-2: Create the spreadsheet. Open Google Sheets, create a new spreadsheet named "Expense Tracker 2026." Add column headers: Date, Vendor, Category, Amount, Payment Method, Notes. That's your whole structure: six columns that capture everything.

Minutes 3-4: Add categories. In a separate tab called "Categories," list your expense categories: Office Supplies, Meals & Entertainment, Travel, Software, Equipment, Professional Services, Marketing, Utilities. Add data validation to the Category column so you get a clean dropdown.

Minutes 5-6: Add summary formulas. Create a "Summary" section. For each category, add a SUMIF formula: =SUMIF(C:C, "Travel", D:D). Running totals by category that update automatically. Add a grand total with =SUM(D:D).

Minutes 7-8: Format and freeze. Format Amount as currency. Bold the header row. Freeze it so it stays visible as you scroll. Add alternating row colors if you like; these small touches make the difference between a sheet you use and one you abandon.

Minutes 9-10: Connect to extraction. Set up Siftly and do a test extraction with one receipt. Export the result to your new expense tracking sheet. The extracted data flows directly into the right columns.

You're Done

That's it. A working expense tracking system with categorization, automatic totals, and a connection to document extraction. Use it consistently and you'll always know where your money is going.