Automation library · Alerts and monitoring

Monitor budget variance with Google Sheets and Gemini

Started by a clock, and works across Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to Gemini. 15 steps, 1 branch: a working afternoon to understand properly.

MediumCalls a model: Gemini

Download free
15 stepsMedium: a working afternoon
1Branch: places the flow splits
0Loops or waits
3Services it connects to

The flow

Starts it 1Model 1Logic 8Service 5

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

  1. 1Daily Budget Monitoring TriggerSchedule triggerStarts it
  2. 2Retrieve Budget DataGoogle SheetsService
  3. 3Retrieve Actual Spend DataGoogle SheetsService
  4. 4Merge Budget and Spend RecordsMergeLogic
  5. 5Calculate Budget VarianceCodeLogic
  6. 6Add Status & Context DetailsSetLogic
  7. 7AI-Based Budget AnalysisGoogle GeminiModel
  8. 8Extract AI InsightsCodeLogic
  9. 9Check Variance Alert ConditionIfLogic
  10. 10Send Budget Alert to SlackSlackService
  11. 11Set No-Alert StatusSetLogic
  12. 12Mark Alert as SentSetLogic
  13. 13Prepare Final Report DataSetLogic
  14. 14Store Final Report in Google SheetsGoogle SheetsService
  15. 15Send Daily Budget Email ReportGmailService

How it's built

Starts on
A clock
Steps
15, with 1 branch
Size
Medium: a working afternoon
Connects to
Gmail, Google Sheets, Slack
Model
Gemini

Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail, Google Sheets and Slack accounts, and a key for Gemini. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on a clock.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls Gemini. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 15 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

Before you run it

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 15 steps before you point it at anything that matters.