File: 'Alex-Budget-May-2026.csv'\nRows: 30 · Columns: date, description, amount, category, notes\n\nFull data:\n2026-05-03, Bakery client invoice, +$1800, income,\n2026-05-10, SaaS retainer, +$1500, income,\n2026-05-01, Rent, -$1400, housing,\n2026-05-01, Gym membership, -$89, subscription, last visit March 12\n2026-05-01, Spotify Family, -$17, subscription, shared with sister\n2026-05-02, Whole Foods, -$94, groceries,\n2026-05-02, Uber Eats, -$34, dining out,\n2026-05-03, Adobe Creative Cloud, -$55, subscription, work tool\n2026-05-03, Coffee shop, -$7, dining out,\n2026-05-04, Uber Eats, -$41, dining out,\n2026-05-05, Notion paid plan, -$10, subscription, work tool\n2026-05-05, Pharmacy, -$23, health,\n2026-05-06, Trader Joe's, -$62, groceries,\n2026-05-06, Coffee shop, -$7, dining out,\n2026-05-07, Dinner with friends, -$58, dining out,\n2026-05-08, Uber Eats, -$39, dining out,\n2026-05-09, Hulu + Disney bundle, -$19, subscription, not opened in 2 months\n2026-05-09, Headspace, -$13, subscription, last opened February\n2026-05-10, Whole Foods, -$87, groceries,\n2026-05-10, Running shoes, -$128, clothing,\n2026-05-11, Coffee shop, -$7, dining out,\n2026-05-11, Uber Eats, -$45, dining out,\n2026-05-12, Gas, -$48, transport,\n2026-05-12, Coffee shop, -$7, dining out,\n2026-05-13, Restaurant, -$62, dining out,\n2026-05-14, LinkedIn Premium, -$39, subscription, work tool\n2026-05-14, Pharmacy, -$18, health,\n2026-05-15, Internet bill, -$70, utilities,\n2026-05-15, Phone bill, -$55, utilities,\n2026-05-15, Electricity, -$84, utilities,\n\nAuto-detected: Total income $3,300 · Total expenses $2,718 · Net +$582. Dining out ($320) exceeds groceries ($243). Subscriptions total $242/mo — gym, Hulu+Disney, and Headspace flagged as potentially unused.

Time to put a real budget in front of Claude and see what it sees.

Claude calls the `spreadsheet_analyze` tool, reads the rows, and gives you back a clear breakdown – plus the things Alex probably did not notice.



## The Trap This Lab Solves

When people look at their own spending, they look for the **one big number** they're worried about ("Did I overspend on rent?"). They miss the **dozen small leaks** that quietly add up to more than the big number.

A spreadsheet with 40 rows is unreadable to a tired human at 11pm. To Claude, it's just rows.

| You scanning the sheet | Claude reading the sheet |
|---|---|
| Sees the rent line, panics, closes the tab | Categorizes every line, totals each category |
| Misses recurring subscriptions buried mid-month | Flags every recurring charge by name |
| Compares feeling, not numbers | Compares to last month, in dollars |



## Task

Ask Claude to analyze Alex's spending for the month and answer three questions:
1. Top 3 spending categories with totals;
2. Subscriptions that look unused or worth reviewing;
3. One specific thing Alex could cut this month without changing how they live.

### Prompt to Try
><b>Analyze my budget for May. Tell me the top 3 categories, flag any subscriptions that look unused, and suggest one thing I could cut this month without changing my life much.

Transform the way you plan your week, manage money, and make daily decisions by putting AI to work on your real life. No coding needed – just clear prompts and the right tools. Each lab uses a live AI assistant with real context, so you practice on situations that actually matter.

Get hands-on experience reading your own week through AI – turning scattered notes and journals into a clear picture of what's done, what's open, and what needs your attention first.

Discover how to use AI to cut through budget anxiety, spot spending leaks, and get a straight answer on whether to buy something – without spreadsheet formulas or financial jargon.

Master the skills needed to plan your week around your real calendar, draft messages you keep avoiding, and build a personal assistant agent that handles all three at once.