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Vinzette

Expense Tracker MCP

by Vinzette
OverviewSchemaSourceRelated ServersScoreDiscussionsAdmin
Python

Expense Tracker MCP

A personal expense tracking server built with FastMCP that exposes tools and resources via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Connect it to any MCP-compatible AI client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.) to log, query, and summarize your spending through natural language.

Features

  • Add expenses — record date, amount, category, optional subcategory, and a free-text note

  • List expenses — retrieve all entries within any date range

  • Summarize spending — aggregate totals by category, optionally filtered to a single category

  • Category reference — a live-reloadable resource (expense://categories) exposes all valid categories and subcategories so the AI always suggests valid values

Related MCP server: Trackor

Tech Stack

Component

Technology

MCP framework

FastMCP ≥ 3.1

Database

SQLite (file-based, zero config)

Runtime

Python ≥ 3.12

Project Structure

expense-tracker-mcp/
├── main.py            # MCP server — tools & resource definitions
├── categories.json    # Category / subcategory taxonomy (editable at runtime)
├── expenses.db        # SQLite database (auto-created on first run)
├── pyproject.toml     # Project metadata & dependencies
└── README.md

Getting Started

1. Clone and install dependencies

git clone <repo-url>
cd expense-tracker-mcp

uv sync

2. Run the server

uv run python main.py

The server starts and listens for MCP connections. The expenses.db SQLite file is created automatically next to main.py on the first run.

3. Connect to an MCP client

Claude Desktop

Add the following block to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "expense-tracker": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["run", "--directory", "/absolute/path/to/expense-tracker-mcp", "python", "main.py"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor / other clients

Follow your client's MCP configuration guide, pointing the command at the same Python executable and main.py.

MCP Tools

add_expense

Add a new expense entry.

Parameter

Type

Required

Description

date

string

Yes

ISO 8601 date, e.g. 2026-03-09

amount

number

Yes

Expense amount (positive value)

category

string

Yes

Top-level category (see categories below)

subcategory

string

No

Subcategory within the category

note

string

No

Free-text description

Returns: { "status": "ok", "id": <inserted row id> }

list_expenses

Retrieve all expenses within a date range (inclusive).

Parameter

Type

Required

Description

start_date

string

Yes

ISO 8601 start date

end_date

string

Yes

ISO 8601 end date

Returns: Array of expense objects with fields id, date, amount, category, subcategory, note.

summarize

Aggregate total spending by category within a date range.

Parameter

Type

Required

Description

start_date

string

Yes

ISO 8601 start date

end_date

string

Yes

ISO 8601 end date

category

string

No

Filter to a single category

Returns: Array of { "category": "...", "total_amount": <number> } objects, ordered alphabetically.

MCP Resource

expense://categories

Returns the full categories.json file as application/json. The file is read from disk on every request, so you can add or rename categories without restarting the server. The AI uses this resource to suggest valid category and subcategory values when logging expenses.

Categories

The taxonomy ships with 18 top-level categories:

Category

Example Subcategories

food

groceries, dining_out, delivery_fees

transport

fuel, public_transport, cab_ride_hailing

housing

rent, repairs_service, furnishing

utilities

electricity, internet_broadband, mobile_phone

health

medicines, doctor_consultation, fitness_gym

education

books, courses, online_subscriptions

family_kids

school_fees, daycare, toys_games

entertainment

movies_events, streaming_subscriptions, games_apps

shopping

clothing, electronics_gadgets, home_decor

subscriptions

saas_tools, cloud_ai, music_video

personal_care

salon_spa, grooming, cosmetics

gifts_donations

gifts_personal, charity_donation, festivals

finance_fees

bank_charges, interest, brokerage

business

hosting_domains, marketing_ads, contractor_payments

travel

flights, hotels, visa_passport

home

household_supplies, cleaning_supplies, small_repairs

pet

food, vet, grooming

taxes

income_tax, gst, filing_fees

Every category also accepts "other" as a catch-all subcategory. Edit categories.json freely to add your own.

Example Prompts

Once connected to an AI client:

Add an expense: ₹450 on groceries today
List all my expenses for February 2026
Summarize my spending between 2026-01-01 and 2026-03-09
How much did I spend on food and transport this month?

Development

Inspect with MCP Inspector

FastMCP 3.x ships with an interactive inspector. Launch it with:

uv run fastmcp dev inspector main.py

This opens the MCP Inspector UI in your browser so you can call tools and browse resources interactively without a full AI client.

Reset the database

The schema is initialised automatically via init_db() on first run. To wipe all data:

rm expenses.db

Available Tools

1 tool
add_expenseC

Add a new expense entry to the database.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
dateYes
noteNo
amountYes
categoryYes
subcategoryNo

TDQS

C2.4/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations, the description must disclose behavioral traits. It only states it adds a new entry, which implies mutation, but fails to disclose any additional behavior such as constraints, error handling, or side effects.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness3/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single sentence, making it concise. However, it is too minimal and does not provide enough information, so it is not optimally structured for clarity.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness1/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given 5 parameters (3 required) and no output schema, the description is severely incomplete. It does not explain parameter roles, constraints, or return values, leaving the agent without essential context.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters1/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The description does not mention any parameters, and the schema has 0% description coverage. Therefore, it adds no meaning beyond the raw schema, failing to compensate for the lack of parameter documentation.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description states 'Add a new expense entry to the database,' which clearly identifies the action (add) and resource (expense entry). However, it does not differentiate from any sibling tools since no siblings are provided.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance on when to use this tool or any prerequisites. The description lacks any context about alternatives or appropriate scenarios.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. 1 tool updatev0.1.0
    • First observedadd_expense
Install Server
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TDQS

C2.6/5.0

Scored across 1 tool

Disambiguation5/5

With only one tool, there is no risk of confusion between tools. The tool's purpose is clear and unambiguous.

Naming Consistency5/5

The single tool name follows a clear verb_noun pattern (add_expense), which is consistent and predictable.

Tool Count1/5

An expense tracker server with only one tool (add) is severely underscoped. Essential operations like list, update, and delete are missing, making the tool surface too thin for practical use.

Completeness1/5

The tool set covers only the create operation. Without read, update, or delete capabilities, agents cannot manage expenses effectively, resulting in dead-end workflows.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessNo issues

Resources

Unclaimed servers have limited discoverability.

Looking for Admin?

If you are the server author, to access and configure the admin panel.

Related MCP Connectors

Related MCP Servers

  • Trackor

    At0mXploit
    F
    license
    Not graded
    quality
    D
    maintenance
    Enables users to track and manage personal expenses through natural language, including adding entries, filtering by date/category, viewing statistics, and exporting data in JSON or CSV format.
    3
    -

  • Expense Tracker MCP Server

    NeelContractor
    F
    license
    Not graded
    quality
    D
    maintenance
    Enables users to track expenses by adding, listing, and summarizing them with category support through natural language.
    -

  • Expense Tracker MCP Server

    Levi-31
    F
    license
    Not graded
    quality
    B
    maintenance
    Enables managing personal expenses, budgets, and financial summaries through natural language, with tools for adding, listing, updating, deleting expenses, setting budgets and credits, and generating dashboards.
    -

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