Add Expenses to Notion using Apple Shortcuts

This is a step-by-step guide on using our custom Apple Shortcut to log new expenses to Notion.

It's a quicker and more intuitive approach for iPhone users.

Please note that this shortcut and guide are specifically designed for our Expense Tracker and Finance Tracker templates.

That said, if you have prior experience with the Notion API and Apple Shortcuts, you can adapt the shortcut to fit your existing expense tracking setup.

But first, why not use the built-in shortcut?

The default shortcut provided by the Notion app currently only allows us to capture the title and body of a new page.

By using a custom shortcut with Notion API integrations, we can capture information at a more detailed level. This includes filling up properties, pre-filling them, and even showing us the options for related properties.

For tracking finances, we can capture more than just the names of new expenses. We can also include details such as the amount, date, and tag it to a related expense category.

Step 1: Create a new integration

Please ensure you're logged into the same Notion account where you track your expenses before proceeding.

1. Go to notion.so/profile/integrations

2. Create a new integration

3. Select the workspace where your expenses are located and ensure that the Type is set to Internal. The name and logo you choose will help you in recognizing this integration when connecting to your Notion pages.

4. Once the integration is created, copy the Internal Integration Secret that will be used in the final step.

Step 2: Connect your Notion pages

If you need a Notion template, you can download my Expense Tracker.

This shortcut requires access to the Expenses and Categories database in Notion. 

Therefore, you need to connect the first page of your template or your source databases to the integration you created earlier.

1. Go to the page where you want to add access.

2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner.

3. Click on Connections.

4. Search for and add the internal integration you created.

Step 3: Find your Database ID

The next step is to find the database ID of your expenses database in Notion.

1. Navigate to the source database of your expenses.

2. Click on the share button at the top right corner and copy the page link.

3. Identify the database ID from the string of characters in the URL between “/” and “?”

If you need further help, please refer to our article on finding your Notion database ID.

Step 4: Set up Apple Shortcut

Before continuing, check that the Shortcuts app is installed on your device. If not, you can download it again from the App Store.

1. Download the shortcut: New Expense Shortcut

2. Enter your Database ID and Notion Integration Secret when prompted to complete the setup.

Conclusion

The final step is to make this shortcut easily accessible, whether as a widget on your home screen or as a control in Control Center.

You can also read our article about the best locations for running shortcuts on your iPhone.

Additional Notes

1. If you’re facing an error running your shortcut, we want to reiterate that the shortcut is specifically designed for our Expense Tracker and Finance Tracker templates

   To learn how to customize the shortcut to your own expense setup, watch this tutorial from another Notion creator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGTXvtkW004&t=1677s
   
   

2. Secondly, the property names and types for a few key values need to be matching between the Notion database and the shortcut. If you have experience, you can update the shortcut side to match.

   Otherwise, please check and update the names and types of the following properties in your Notion expense database.

3. Thirdly, ensure that you have added access to the source database or a page that contains the source database, rather than just a linked view of a database.