90-Day Money Reset - Step 2: AI can help you fix your spending
Welcome to the 90-Day Money Reset! Over the next 30 days, I'm going to walk you through 9 simple steps to help you clear the overwhelm, get clarity on your finances, and finally put a plan in place that works. This post covers Step 1 and if you'd like to receive each next step directly in your inbox as we go, just click here to join the challenge and I'll guide you through the rest of the reset, one step at a time.
If you missed Step 1, you can catch up and read it on my blog here.
Step 2 is the step I used to like least. Because it felt like admin, until AI came along. This is the first month I'll be using AI to make this easier for me. You can also do it manually if you want (but why?).
Grab a coffee and settle in with me for 10 mins. (I have timed it before and it actually only takes 5 minutes with AI, or 15 minutes manually).
Step 2: Do you know what you're actually spending?
Get all relevant recent bank statements, covering 1 month (for example the month of April). I have 3 bank accounts and my husband 2. So I'm feeding all 5 statements into ChatGPT/Claude.
Here are the exact prompts I use:
Start a new "chat" which you can use again next month.
You're my personal finance coach and I'd like you to analyse my spending for the month of [April].
I'm based in [country], currency is [X].
This covers [X] people's spending. Analyse as a combined household.
Here are my/our bank statements for [April]. Please categorise my spending into these categories: Groceries; Entertainment; Eating out; Clothes; Home improvement; Miscellaneous; Fuel; Electricity; Water; Healthcare; Kids; Personal Care; Admin Expenses; Travel; Subscriptions; Investments; Rent or Mortgage; Gym; WiFi; Kindergarten or School; Insurance; Cleaning; Au pair; Cell phone; Security
If you're not sure about some of the transactions, ask me what they are for before doing the analysis
Then tell me my total spending, and how it fits into three buckets, as the amount I spend and the percentage of total: Needs; Wants; Invest
Tell me where you think I can save. I'd like to save [$X] to add to my [investment account or holiday savings pot].
Populate my spending in a [Google or Excel] sheet that I can refer back to next month to compare my spending month-to-month and see if I've made improvements.
You don't have to do this every month, but doing it at least once will help you realise where you could be cutting back.
FYI: To go even deeper, we cover this in much more detail in lesson 5 of Your Money Gameplan. The sheet we use is already set up so you can just add your inputs. I include the tracker, how you can allocate your money and a ChatGPT category prompt. There is also a specific program for couples.
Hot tips from my Instagram followers:
I asked my followers which tips they have for cutting back spending, here are my favourites:
Delete all subscriptions, then intentionally "resubscribe" only to what you actually use.
Meal planning with cooking at home - removing take out/ eating out (deleting UberEats). Only grocery shop once per week, don't shop when hungry.
Unsubscribe from marketing emails from retailers, delete the apps from your phone - don't be tempted by discounts and sales.
Cutting Alcohol.
No store accounts, no credit card and no "Payflex"/BNPL. If you can't save up to buy something then you shouldn't be buying it.
My personal commitments for 90 days:
No UberEats for 90 days. I spent way too much in April on takeout. Deleted the app this morning.
Finish all cosmetic and hygiene products before buying new ones. Yes, all those half bottles in the back of your bathroom cabinet.
Started UCook to help simplify meals and reduce wastage. New baby, business and book is making meal planning incredibly hard for me.
Limiting spending on home improvements each month. New house = constantly wanting to buy more stuff. The only 2 rooms that really need something is the kids' rooms which I have set a budget for, no more spending on other rooms for the next 90 days.
I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR what you're changing for the next 90-days.
Ready to take it to the next level? Your Money Gameplan is an in-depth system that can help you go even deeper on your reset journey. With tools I use for myself and loads of resources to help you make lasting changes.
What's included:
Full 13-sheet calculator covering goals, retirement, spending, debt allocations and trackers
Video guided lessons covering where are you are at, where you are going and how to get you there
Practical activities and worksheets
If you complete Your Money Gameplan program before 28 May 2026, I’ll invite you to my live Q&A where I’ll answer your questions.
Speak soon,
Carla