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Like most people, I used to manage my money in bursts. A quick look at my banking app at month-end, a vague promise to save more, and then life moved on.
AI changed that. I now use it daily to spot leaks in my spending and act as a disciplined sounding board. But there is a catch: I am a security professional so I know better than to upload my un-redacted bank statement to a public chatbot.
Instead, I use a “sanitised context” approach. I never give the AI my account numbers, real net worth, or merchant names that reveal my location. I describe my finances in patterns and percentages, not raw data.
Used thoughtfully, AI becomes less of a guru and more of a ruthless, unbiased CFO for my household.
Pro tip: Before acting on any financial advice, I run the same question through a second AI chatbot and compare the answers. It’s a simple habit that adds an extra layer of confidence.
Below are the exact prompts I use to keep my budget tight and my data safe
Prompt 1 - The Monthly spending overview prompt “Act as my personal finance assistant. I’ll describe my monthly expenses in categories (for example, groceries 30%, subscriptions 10%, transport 15%). Help me identify patterns, unnecessary spending, and areas where small changes could improve my budget. Safety Rule: Do not ask for exact account or bank details. Keep all amounts relative.”
Prompt 2 - Spotting silent budget leaks prompt “Think like a budgeting coach for a modern household. Based on my recurring expenses (e.g., subscriptions 10%, food delivery 15%, transport 20%), identify which ones deliver the least value.
Prompt 3 - Evaluating new spending prompt “Act as a cautious financial planner. I’m considering a new expense (e.g., 5% of my monthly budget). Based on my current expense ratios, help me evaluate whether it fits comfortably and suggest adjustments if needed.
Prompt 4 - The “One meaningful change” prompt “Be a practical, non-judgmental advisor. From my spending percentages, suggest one habit I should focus on this month to improve savings.
(Written by Sumeet Jeswani who works on AI Security at Google.)
Disclaimer: This column is for general information and does not constitute advice; readers act on it at their own risk.
To share interesting stories of how you use AI in your everyday life, please write to eteyeonai@timesofindia.com
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Instead, I use a “sanitised context” approach. I never give the AI my account numbers, real net worth, or merchant names that reveal my location. I describe my finances in patterns and percentages, not raw data.
Used thoughtfully, AI becomes less of a guru and more of a ruthless, unbiased CFO for my household.
Pro tip: Before acting on any financial advice, I run the same question through a second AI chatbot and compare the answers. It’s a simple habit that adds an extra layer of confidence.
Below are the exact prompts I use to keep my budget tight and my data safe
Prompt 1 - The Monthly spending overview prompt “Act as my personal finance assistant. I’ll describe my monthly expenses in categories (for example, groceries 30%, subscriptions 10%, transport 15%). Help me identify patterns, unnecessary spending, and areas where small changes could improve my budget. Safety Rule: Do not ask for exact account or bank details. Keep all amounts relative.”
Prompt 2 - Spotting silent budget leaks prompt “Think like a budgeting coach for a modern household. Based on my recurring expenses (e.g., subscriptions 10%, food delivery 15%, transport 20%), identify which ones deliver the least value.
Prompt 3 - Evaluating new spending prompt “Act as a cautious financial planner. I’m considering a new expense (e.g., 5% of my monthly budget). Based on my current expense ratios, help me evaluate whether it fits comfortably and suggest adjustments if needed.
Prompt 4 - The “One meaningful change” prompt “Be a practical, non-judgmental advisor. From my spending percentages, suggest one habit I should focus on this month to improve savings.
(Written by Sumeet Jeswani who works on AI Security at Google.)
Disclaimer: This column is for general information and does not constitute advice; readers act on it at their own risk.
To share interesting stories of how you use AI in your everyday life, please write to eteyeonai@timesofindia.com
