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Expense Logging with Telegram to Google Sheets using AI Voice & Text Parsing

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Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

Use Cases Personal or family budget tracking. Small business expense logging via Telegram Hands free logging (using voice messages) How it works: Trigger receives text or voice. Optional branch tra...

Best for

  • Personal Productivity automation workflows
  • AI Summarization automation workflows
  • advanced n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmchatopenai, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.outputparserstructured, @n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainllm, n8n-nodes-base.googlesheets, n8n-nodes-base.wait, n8n-nodes-base.telegram, n8n-nodes-base.splitout, n8n-nodes-base.splitinbatches

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Calvin Cunningham.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title
Expense Logging with Telegram to Google Sheets using AI Voice & Text Parsing
Workflow name
Expense Logging with Telegram to Google Sheets using AI Voice & Text Parsing

Use Cases

-Personal or family budget tracking.

-Small business expense logging via Telegram

-Hands-free logging (using voice messages)


How it works:

-Trigger receives text or voice.

-Optional branch transcribes audio to text.

-AI parses into a structured array (SOP enforces schema).

-Split Out produces 1 item per expense.

-Loop Over Items appends rows sequentially with a Wait, preventing missed writes.

-In parallel, Item Lists (Aggregate) builds a single summary string; Merge (Wait for Both) releases one final Telegram confirmation.


Setup Instructions

  1. Connect credentials: Telegram, Google, OpenAI.
  2. Sheets: Create a sheet with headers Date, Category, Merchant, Amount, Note. Copy Spreadsheet ID + sheet name.
  3. Map columns in Append to Google Sheet.
  4. Pick models: set Chat model (e.g., gpt-4o-mini) and Whisper for transcription if using audio.
  5. Wait time: keep 500–1000 ms to avoid API race conditions.
  6. Run: Send a Telegram message like: Gas 34.67, Groceries 82.45, Coffee 6.25, Lunch 14.90.

Customization ideas:

-Add categories map (Memory/Set) for consistent labeling.

-Add currency detection/formatting.

-Add error-to-Telegram path for invalid schema.

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - OpenAI Chat Model

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.lmChatOpenAi - lmChatOpenAi
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 2 - Structured Output Parser

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.outputParserStructured - outputParserStructured
Config choices
Version 1.3

Block 3 - Parse Expenses with AI

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.chainLlm - chainLlm
Config choices
Version 1.7

Block 4 - Append to Google Sheet

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices
Version 4.7

Block 5 - Wait 0.5 seconds

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.wait - wait
Config choices
Version 1.1

Block 6 - Send Telegram Confirmation

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 7 - Split Out

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.splitOut - splitOut
Config choices
Version 1

Block 8 - Loop Over Items

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.splitInBatches - splitInBatches
Config choices
Version 3

Block 9 - Telegram Message Trigger

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegramTrigger - telegramTrigger
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 10 - Check if Audio file

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.if - if
Config choices
Version 2.2

Block 11 - Transcribe audio

Type / Role
@n8n/n8n-nodes-langchain.openAi - openAi
Config choices
Version 1.8

Block 12 - Set field

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 13 - Merge

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.merge - merge
Config choices
Version 3.2

Block 14 - Get File

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.telegram - telegram
Config choices
Version 1.2

Block 15 - Sticky Note1

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 16 - Build Expense Summary Text

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices
Version 2

Block 17 - Build Confirmation Text

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.set - set
Config choices
Version 3.4

Block 18 - Sticky Note2

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 19 - Sticky Note

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 20 - Sticky Note3

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 21 - Sticky Note4

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

Block 22 - Sticky Note5

Type / Role
n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices
Version 1

3. Summary Table

Workflow Expense Logging with Telegram to Google Sheets using AI Voice & Text Parsing
Complexity advanced
Nodes 22
Categories Personal Productivity, AI Summarization
Author Calvin Cunningham
Published 18 Nov 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

  1. 1. Download the workflow JSON

    Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/10993/10993.json as the source template for this automation.

  2. 2. Import the template into n8n

    Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.

  3. 3. Configure credentials and variables

    Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.

  4. 4. Test with sample data

    Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.

  5. 5. Activate and monitor

    Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Frequently asked questions

What does Expense Logging with Telegram to Google Sheets using AI Voice & Text Parsing do?

Use Cases Personal or family budget tracking. Small business expense logging via Telegram Hands free logging (using voice messages) How it works: Trigger receives text or voice. Optional branch tra...

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Personal Productivity, AI Summarization use case.