Why?
You loveHow to Set Up
Prerequisites
- Google account
- At least one bank connected in Lunch Flow
Setup Steps
1
Add Google Sheets as a destination:
- Go to the Destinations page in Lunch Flow
- Click Add Destination
- Select Google Sheets
2
Choose a spreadsheet template:
- Overview Template (recommended): Pre-configured with balances and transactions, including merchant logos and categories
- Blank Sheet: Start with a clean slate
- Use existing spreadsheet: Paste the URL of your existing Google Sheet
3
Share the sheet with our service account:
- Open your Google Sheet
- Click the Share button
- Add the service account email as an Editor
- The service account email is displayed in the setup form - you can copy it with one click
4
Connect your sheet:
- Copy the Google Sheet URL from your browser
- Paste it into the “Google Sheet URL” field
- Click Add Destination
5
Configure your destination:
- Select accounts: Toggle which bank accounts to sync to the sheet
- Enable transaction enrichment (optional): Automatically detect merchant names and categories from your transactions
- Sync now: Click the “Sync Now” button to immediately sync your transactions, or wait for the automatic daily sync
Spreadsheet Structure
Your Google Sheet will have these columns:| Column | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Bank account name | Chase Checking |
| Date | Transaction date | 2025-01-15 |
| Amount | Transaction amount | -45.32 |
| Currency | Transaction currency | USD |
| Payee | Merchant/description | STARBUCKS LONDON |
| Notes | Additional transaction notes | Payment reference |
| Transaction ID | Unique transaction identifier | tx_1234567890 |
| Raw Data | Complete transaction data in JSON format | {"enrichment": {...}} |
| Merchant | Cleaned merchant name (when enrichment enabled) | Starbucks |
| Category | Transaction category (when enrichment enabled) | Food & Beverage |
Transaction Enrichment
Transaction enrichment automatically detects merchant names and categories from your bank transactions using AI, adding them as new columns in your sheet.What You Get
When enabled, enrichment provides:- Cleaned merchant names: Normalized merchant names (e.g., “STARBUCKS LONDON” → “Starbucks”)
- Automatic categorization: Transactions are categorized into predefined categories like:
- Food & Beverage
- Transport
- Shopping
- Entertainment
- Bills & Utilities
- Health
- Travel
- Home
- Education
- Business Services
- Personal Care
- Charity
- Income
- Investments
- Groceries
- Other
How to Enable
- Go to your Google Sheets destination configuration page
- Toggle on Transaction Enrichment in the Configuration section
- Click Sync Now to apply enrichment to new transactions
Sync Behavior
How Syncing Works
- Daily updates: New transactions added automatically
- No duplicates: Same transaction won’t appear twice
- Append only: Older transactions stay in place
Customization
Create Pivot Tables
Build custom reports:- Monthly spending by category
- Income vs expenses
- Account balances over time
- Merchant frequency
Charts and Visualizations
Create visual insights:- Spending trends line charts
- Category breakdowns pie charts
- Monthly comparisons bar charts
Best Practices
Keep Original Structure
- ✅ Add new columns to different sheets, rather than modify existing ones.
- ✅ Add rows below (for manual entries)
- ❌ Don’t delete sync columns
- ❌ Don’t rename sync columns
Use Separate Sheets
Create multiple sheets within same spreadsheet:- Raw Data: Keep this untouched (synced data)
- Analysis: Create pivots and charts here
- Budget: Build your budget tracking etc…
Advanced Tips
Filter Views
Create saved filters without affecting others:- Data → Filter views → Create new filter view
- Set criteria (date range, accounts, amounts)
- Save and name your view
Conditional Formatting
Highlight important transactions:- Red for large expenses (>$500)
- Green for income
- Yellow for pending transactions
Sharing
Share with family or accountant:- Click “Share” button
- Add email addresses
- Set permissions (view or edit)
Alternative: CSV Export
If you prefer more control or use Excel: Consider CSV/OFX export instead for:- Import to Excel
- Import to other software
- One-time data pulls