# Set up simple record-keeping for my side income

An easy system for tracking side-gig income, expenses, and receipts so tax time and profit checks are painless.

- Topic: Finance & Accounting
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/set-up-simple-record-keeping-for-my-side-income

## Prompt

```text
Help me set up a simple way to track the money from my side gig.

**What I do:** [e.g. "tutoring", "Etsy shop", "photography", "rideshare"]
**How I get paid:** [cash, payment apps, marketplace payouts, invoices]
**Typical costs:** [supplies, platform fees, mileage, software, equipment]
**Number of transactions per month:** [ROUGH NUMBER]
**Tools I'm comfortable with:** [paper notebook / spreadsheet / phone app]
**Do I keep side money separate from personal money now?** [yes / no]

Give me:
1. A setup checklist: a separate account or card for side income, a receipts folder, and a weekly 15-minute routine.
2. A spreadsheet layout I can copy: columns for Date | Description | Customer or vendor | Category | Income | Expense | Payment method | Receipt saved (Y/N) | Notes. Include 8-10 expense categories suited to my type of work.
3. A simple monthly summary: total income, total expenses, profit, and how much to move to a tax savings account.
4. What records to keep and for how long - marked [CONFIRM WITH TAX GUIDANCE] since rules vary.
5. How to track mileage or home-office use if they apply, as things to check rather than promises they're deductible.
6. Signs I've outgrown this system and should consider accounting software or a bookkeeper.

Keep it minimal - something I'll actually keep up with. This is general information, not tax advice.
```

## What to fill in

- e.g. "tutoring", "Etsy shop", "photography", "rideshare"
- cash, payment apps, marketplace payouts, invoices
- supplies, platform fees, mileage, software, equipment
- ROUGH NUMBER
- paper notebook / spreadsheet / phone app
- yes / no
- CONFIRM WITH TAX GUIDANCE

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.