Expense Optimizer

Organization

openaccountant

expense-optimizer

Find recurring expenses and subscriptions to cut or reduce.

Overview

Publisher	openaccountant
Repository	`skills`
Skill name	`expense-optimizer`
Stars	106
Forks	18
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by openaccountant on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Expense Optimizer AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
https://github.com/openaccountant/skills/tree/main/shared/expense-optimizer
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/openaccountant/skills.git /tmp/skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/skills/shared/expense-optimizer .claude/skills/expense-optimizer

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Expense Optimizer in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Expense Optimizer on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Expense Optimizer is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Expense Optimizer

Overview

Analyze your transaction history to identify recurring expenses, unused subscriptions, duplicate services, and optimization opportunities. Surfaces actionable savings by detecting charges you may have forgotten about or services you could downgrade.

Wilson Tools Used

transaction_search — detect recurring charges by pattern and frequency
anomaly_detect — flag subscriptions with price increases or irregular charges
spending_summary — identify highest-spend recurring categories

Workflow

Use transaction_search to find all transactions from the last 6 months.
Identify recurring charges by grouping transactions with similar descriptions and regular intervals (weekly, monthly, annual).
Build a recurring expense inventory:
Service Monthly Cost Frequency Last Charged Category
Use anomaly_detect to flag:
- Subscriptions with recent price increases
- Charges that stopped (possible cancellation or card expiry)
- Services charged but not seen in a while (potential unused subscriptions)
Classify each recurring expense into optimization categories (see table below).
Present findings with estimated annual savings for each recommendation.
Summarize total potential savings.

Optimization Categories

Category	Description	Examples
Cancel	Services you likely don't use	Gym memberships with no related spending nearby, streaming services you haven't watched
Downgrade	Premium tiers you could reduce	Phone plan with unused data, cloud storage over 50% empty
Negotiate	Services with competitive alternatives	Internet, insurance, cell phone
Consolidate	Overlapping services	Multiple streaming, multiple cloud storage, multiple music services
Switch	Cheaper alternatives exist	Bank fees (switch to no-fee), high-interest debt (refinance)
Keep	Good value, actively used	No action needed

Without Wilson

To find recurring expenses manually:

Step-by-Step in a Spreadsheet

Export 6 months of transactions from your bank as CSV.
Sort by Description alphabetically to group similar charges.
Identify recurring charges:
- Filter for common subscription amounts: $4.99, $9.99, $12.99, $14.99, $15.99, $19.99
- Search for keywords: SUBSCRIPTION, RECURRING, MONTHLY, ANNUAL, RENEWAL
- Look for identical amounts from the same vendor appearing monthly

Build your subscription inventory in a new sheet:


=SUMIFS(Amount, Description, "*NETFLIX*", Date, ">="&TODAY()-180) / 6

This gives the average monthly cost for Netflix over the last 6 months.

Detect price increases: Compare the most recent charge to the oldest charge for each vendor:


Current:  =INDEX(Amount, MATCH(1, (Description="*NETFLIX*")*(Date=MAX(IF(Description="*NETFLIX*",Date))), 0))
Original: =INDEX(Amount, MATCH(1, (Description="*NETFLIX*")*(Date=MIN(IF(Description="*NETFLIX*",Date))), 0))

Calculate annual cost: =MonthlyCost * 12
Sum potential savings: Add up the annual cost of services you'd cancel, downgrade, or switch.

Free Tools

Rocket Money (formerly Truebill): Automatically detects and helps cancel subscriptions
Trim: Negotiates bills on your behalf (takes a percentage of savings)
Bobby (iOS app): Manual subscription tracker with renewal reminders

Important Notes

Recurring detection works best with 3+ months of transaction history. With less data, some annual charges may be missed.
Annual charges (e.g., Amazon Prime, domain renewals) only appear once — Wilson looks back 12 months for these if data is available.
Some services use different billing descriptors than their brand name (e.g., "GOOGLE *YouTube" for YouTube Premium). Wilson groups these by learning common aliases.
This skill identifies candidates for optimization but does not cancel or modify any services on your behalf.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Expense Optimizer AI skill do?

Find recurring expenses and subscriptions to cut or reduce.

Why use Expense Optimizer on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Expense Optimizer is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Expense Optimizer in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/openaccountant/skills/tree/main/shared/expense-optimizer. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Expense Optimizer?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Expense Optimizer?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Expense Optimizer with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Expense Optimizer AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by openaccountant under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Expense Optimizer

Overview

Wilson Tools Used

Workflow

Optimization Categories

Without Wilson

Step-by-Step in a Spreadsheet

Free Tools

Important Notes

Frequently asked questions

Related AI Skills

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