Setup time
20 min
One-time
Time saved
Stress
reduced every month you run this
Tools
Claude
Free tier works
Difficulty
Beginner
No code
Cost
Free
To implement
What this workflow does
Takes your income and expenses — however messy or incomplete — and produces a clear monthly budget: what is coming in, what is going out, what is essential, what can be cut, and whether you will make it to month-end. It also builds a simple survival plan for tight months and a habit for tracking spending going forward. No spreadsheet skills required. No financial background needed. Just honest numbers and a plan.
Who it's for
- Anyone who reaches month-end wondering where their money went
- Young earners getting their first salary and trying to make it stretch
- Students managing a bursary, allowance, or part-time income
- Anyone in a financially tight month who needs a realistic survival plan
Input
Your income and expenses
As complete or incomplete as you have them
Output
Monthly budget + survival plan
What comes in · what goes out · what to do
What you'll need
What good looks like
Budget — June 2026
R6,200 in · R5,840 out · R360 left
Survival plan
Month-end status
Tight but safe
Example output
- Every rand of income accounted for — salary, side income, grants, family support
- Every expense categorised: fixed, variable, and discretionary
- A clear surplus or shortfall number — no more guessing
- A specific survival plan if the month is tight — what to cut, what to defer
- A simple weekly check-in habit so the plan stays on track