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Log payments automatically on iPhone

The MoneyMatter iPhone app adds two actions to Apple’s Shortcuts app. Put one in an automation, and your iPhone logs a payment every time you tap your card, your bank texts you or your bank’s app sends a notification. You set it up once per card or bank.

You pay withAutomation triggerMoneyMatter action
A card in Apple Wallet, in a shopWalletLog Wallet Payment
Any card, and your bank texts youMessageLog Payment Message
Any card, and your bank app notifies youNotificationLog Payment Message

The steps follow iOS 27. The small illustrations are drawn to match Shortcuts, so colours and spacing differ a little from your phone.

Before you start Plus

Section titled “Before you start ”
  • Plus plan. AI reads each payment, so automations need Plus. They’re included in your free trial. See plans and billing.
  • The iPhone app, signed in. Open MoneyMatter once after installing it, so Shortcuts can find its actions.
  • iOS version. Wallet and Message automations work on iOS 17 and later. Notification automations need iOS 27.

Set up a Wallet automation

Section titled “Set up a Wallet automation”

Wallet only reports payments you make by tapping your phone or watch in a shop. Online and in-app Apple Pay payments don’t trigger it.

  1. Open Shortcuts, go to Library → Automation and tap +. If a card asks you to describe the shortcut, tap Edit.

  2. In the action list, tap the Automation chip and choose Wallet under Apps. The trigger reads When Any Card is tapped.

  3. Choose which card the automation listens to:

    • Tap Any Card and pick one card. Do this once per card, so each automation can send its payments to the right account. Recommended.
    • Or keep Any Card. Every tap gets logged, including cards you don’t track in MoneyMatter.

  4. Tap the arrow next to the trigger to see its options, and check that the Automation toggle is on.

  5. In the search field at the bottom, search for Log Wallet and add Log Wallet Payment.

  6. Fill Amount with the payment amount:

    1. Tap the Amount field. A row of choices opens: Select Variable, Ask Each Time and more. Swipe it all the way to the right and tap Transaction. Or tap Select Variable, then tap the Transaction bubble under the trigger.

    2. A blue Transaction pill fills the field. Tap the pill and pick Amount from the Get list. The pill now reads Amount.

      The Shortcuts editor with a Transaction pill in the Amount field of Log Wallet Payment, and the Get list open below it: Transaction, Card or Pass, Merchant, Amount and Name.The Shortcuts editor with a Transaction pill in the Amount field of Log Wallet Payment, and the Get list open below it: Transaction, Card or Pass, Merchant, Amount and Name.

  7. Fill the other two fields the same way: Merchant → Merchant, Card → Card or Pass.

  8. Optional: tap Account and pick the MoneyMatter account this card belongs to. Every payment from this automation then lands on that account.

  9. Tap the back arrow to save the automation.

The finished Wallet automation in Shortcuts: When Any Card is tapped with its options open (Categories, Merchants, the Automation toggle on, Notify off), and Log Wallet Payment with Amount, Merchant and Card or Pass pills and the Everyday Card account.The finished Wallet automation in Shortcuts: When Any Card is tapped with its options open (Categories, Merchants, the Automation toggle on, Notify off), and Log Wallet Payment with Amount, Merchant and Card or Pass pills and the Everyday Card account.

Add where you paid

Section titled “Add where you paid”

The Location field saves the shop’s location with the transaction.

  1. In the automation, add the Get Current Location action above Log Wallet Payment.

  2. Tap Location and pick the Current Location variable.

Set up an SMS automation

Section titled “Set up an SMS automation”

Use this if your bank texts you about every payment.

  1. Start a new automation as for Wallet, but choose Message.

  2. Set Sender to your bank, and add Message Contains with a phrase that only its payment texts use (for example, the word your bank puts before the amount). Keep the filter narrow so one-time codes and promotions aren’t captured.

  3. Add the MoneyMatter action Log Payment Message.

  4. Tap Message Text, insert the Message variable, then tap the pill and pick Content.

  5. Optional: fill Sender the same way with Message → Sender.

  6. Optional: pick an Account.

  7. Tap the back arrow to save.

Set up a notification automation

Section titled “Set up a notification automation”

Use this if your bank’s app sends a notification for every payment. Needs iOS 27.

  1. Start a new automation as for Wallet, but choose Notification under Apps. The trigger reads When I receive a notification from App.

  2. Tap App and pick your bank’s app. Then tap Add Filter, for example Title contains or Message contains, with words only payment notifications use. That way promotions and sign-in alerts don’t run the automation.

  3. Add the MoneyMatter action Log Payment Message.

  4. Tap Message Text, insert the Notification variable, then tap the pill and pick Body. This is the only field you have to fill.

  5. Optional: fill Sender with Notification → App. Don’t pick the notification’s Sender property: it means the person who sent a message, so it’s empty for bank notifications.

  6. Optional: pick an Account.

  7. Tap the back arrow to save.

Where the payments go

Section titled “Where the payments go”
  • They’re imported the next time you open the app. The automation only queues the payment on your phone. Open MoneyMatter and it’s sent off and added.
  • Bank-connected accounts get a planned transaction. It’s confirmed when your bank sync reports the same amount. If the bank never reports it, delete the planned transaction.
  • Manual accounts get a regular transaction.
  • No account picked in the shortcut? The first payment from each card asks which account it belongs to. Tap the sync icon on the Home screen: it’s listed under SMS & Wallet → Check these payments as “Pick the account for this card”.
  • Different currency? A payment in a currency other than its account’s waits in the same list, with the original amount filled in.
The Bank sync sheet in the MoneyMatter iPhone app. Under SMS & Wallet, Check these payments lists City Parking $8.00 and Sunrise Bakery $12.40, each with Pick the account for this card and a delete button.The Bank sync sheet in the MoneyMatter iPhone app. Under SMS & Wallet, Check these payments lists City Parking $8.00 and Sunrise Bakery $12.40, each with Pick the account for this card and a delete button.

Privacy

Section titled “Privacy”
  • The message text and sender, and the Wallet amount, merchant and card, are sent to the MoneyMatter server and its AI provider to be read, then removed from your phone.
  • The location is saved with the transaction on the MoneyMatter server only. It’s never sent to the AI provider.

Upgrading from Log Transaction

Section titled “Upgrading from Log Transaction”

Earlier versions of the app had a single Log Transaction action. It’s now two actions: Log Wallet Payment and Log Payment Message.

  • SMS and notification automations keep working. The action now shows as Log Payment Message. Nothing to change.
  • Wallet automations need rebuilding. Open each one, delete the old action and add Log Wallet Payment as in Set up a Wallet automation.

Good to know

Section titled “Good to know”
  • One automation per card or bank. It keeps payments on the right account and the filters narrow.
  • Want to type an expense yourself? Use the Add Expense shortcut.
Section titled “Related”