🔬 Track expenses by parsing Telegram transaction messages to Google Sheets
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Description
Overview
This n8n workflow template automatically parses incoming Telegram transaction messages and logs structured data into a Google Sheet. It’s designed to help individuals and small businesses track and record transactions shared via Telegram without manual data entry.
Target Audience
This template is ideal for:
Individuals, freelancers, and small businesses who receive transaction or payment notifications through Telegram and want to organize them in Google Sheets.
Anyone using self-hosted n8n (required due to custom community nodes).
Problem Solved
Manually copying transaction details from Telegram to Google Sheets is error-prone and time-consuming. This workflow automates the process by:
Monitoring a Telegram bot/chat for new messages.
Parsing transaction details (amount, sender, date, etc.).
Logging them in real-time into a Google Sheet for easy tracking.
Setup Instructions
- Telegram Bot Setup Create a Telegram bot using BotFather.
Add the bot to the desired group/channel and grant admin permissions if needed.
Note down the bot token.
- Google Sheets Setup Create a Google Sheet with relevant columns (e.g., Date, Amount, Sender, Transaction ID).
Set up Google Sheets credentials in n8n for access.
- n8n Workflow Configuration Import this template into your self-hosted n8n instance.
Update the Telegram node: Add your bot token and specify the chat/group ID.
Update the Google Sheets node: Link it to your created sheet and ensure column mapping matches your sheet structure.
Adjust parsing logic if your message format varies (see next section for examples).
- Community Nodes This workflow uses custom community nodes. Ensure these are installed via the n8n settings or CLI:
[List your required community nodes here, e.g., n8n-nodes-telegram, n8n-nodes-gsheet, etc.]
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Activate the Workflow Save and activate your workflow. Send a test transaction message to your Telegram group/chat and verify data appears in your Google Sheet.
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Troubleshooting If messages are not being picked up, check bot permissions and the chat ID.
Ensure Google Sheets credentials are correct and the sheet is accessible.
Double-check that custom nodes are properly installed and up-to-date.
Example Telegram Message Formats
Received: $75 from @john_doe on 2024-05-29. Transaction ID: 12345XYZ. Paid $120 to @vendor on 2024-05-28. Ref: 67890ABC. You received ₹5,000 from @amit. ID: 54321PQR. Date: 29/05/2024 The workflow parses messages in the above formats and logs the following columns:
Date
Amount
Sender/Receiver
Transaction/Reference ID
If your message format differs, update the regex in the parsing node.
Disclaimer
This n8n workflow template uses custom community nodes and is only compatible with the self-hosted version of n8n.
- Workflow Changes (For n8n Canvas) Rename the Nodes:
‘If’ node → “Is Transaction Message?”
‘Google Sheets’ node → “Log to Google Sheet”
(Rename other generic nodes for clarity, e.g., ‘Telegram’ → “Listen for Telegram Messages”, ‘Function’ → “Parse Transaction Details”)
Sticky Note Improvement: (Edit the sticky note or add one if missing)
Workflow Steps:
Listen for Telegram Messages: This node receives new messages from the Telegram bot.
Is Transaction Message? Checks if the message matches known transaction patterns.
Parse Transaction Details: Extracts amount, sender, date, and transaction ID using regex.
Log to Google Sheet: Records the parsed transaction in the linked Google Sheet for easy tracking.
🔗 Nodes Used
Google Sheets, Telegram Trigger
📥 Import
Download workflow.json and import into n8n:
Workflow menu → Import from File