Use case: Data Processing, Formatting & Math
Instruction type: Multistep
Prompt style: Direct prompting

Prompt:
I have been keeping track of my business expenses for my Etsy shop in a spreadsheet but the list is disorganised and I think my numbers are not adding up properly. I need you to look at the following list of business expenses. First, list the expenses in chronological order. Then, for any expenses that are not recurring I need you to list these again under a separate heading, bolding any expenses that seem illogical or do not add up. List these from lowest to highest cost. After this I need a short explanation for why you have bolded any expenses, so I can double check them. I need the lists to be cleaned, standardise the formatting and merge duplicate entries. Don't use bullet points or tables for any of the lists. Here are my expenses:

01/03/25 — Purchase: Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £142.80 — Balance: £2,357.20
09/05/25 — Replacement squeegee (Equipment) — £12 — Balance: £2,193.21
26/08/25 — Screen-printing ink: black (Recurring) (Materials) — £19.99 — Balance: £1,959.52
25/03/2025 — Packaging mailer bags (Recurring) (Shipping Supplies) — £13.50 — Balance: £2,318.91
23/09/25 — Postage labels (Recurring) (Shipping) — £9.10 — Balance: £1,917.74
01/10/25 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £95.20 — Balance: £1,822.54
09/05/25 — Replacement squeegee (Equipment) — £12 — Balance: £2,193.21
04/09/25 — Bubble wrap roll (Shipping Supplies) — £79.9 — Balance: £1,951.53
13/05/2025 — Postage labels (Recurring) (Shipping) — £9.10 — Balance: £2,184.11
12/03/25 — Etsy listing fees (Recurring) (Selling Fees) — £4.80 — Balance: £2,332.41
14/09/25 — Replacement screen mesh (Materials) — £1.620 — Balance: £1,926.84
07/10/25 — Screen-printing ink: red (Materials) — £21.50 — Balance: £1,801.04
05/09/25 — Heat-resistant tape (Materials) — £8.49 — Balance: £1,943.04
06/07/25 — Shopify domain renewal (Recurring) (Annual) — £14 — Balance: £2,170.11
07/07/25 — Polyester screens (Materials) — £27.90 — Balance: £2,142.21
11/07/25 — Packaging mailer bags (Recurring) (Shipping Supplies) — £13.50 — Balance: £2,128.71
04/03/25 — Screen-printing ink: black (Recurring) (Materials) — £19.99 — Balance: £2,337.21
03/08/25 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £146.80 — Balance: £1,985.91
15/08/25 — Etsy transaction fees (Recurring) (Selling Fees) — £6.40 — Balance: £1,979.51
07/10/25 — Screen-printing ink: red (Materials) — £21.50 — Balance: £1,801.04
02/04/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £95.20 — Balance: £2,223.71
04/05/25 — Screen-printing ink: white (Materials) — £18.5 — Balance: £2,205.21
05/09/25 — Heat-resistant tape (Materials) — £8.49 — Balance: £1,943.04

Evaluation criteria:
The response should merge the three sets of duplicate entries provided in the prompt, so that each of the following entries appears only once in the final chronological list: "09/05/25 — Replacement squeegee (Equipment) — £12 — Balance: £2,193.21", "07/10/25 — Screen-printing ink: red (Materials) — £21.50 — Balance: £1,801.04", and "05/09/25 — Heat-resistant tape (Materials) — £8.49 — Balance: £1,943.04". Omitting the balance from the entries is permissible.
The response should standardize the date format for all expenses listed, ensuring that dates like "01/03/25" and "25/03/2025" are presented in a consistent format. For example, the response should present all dates with either DD/MM/YY or DD/MM/YYYY.
The response should use consistent formatting for every entry within the generated lists, presenting the date, item and cost for each expense in a consistent order. For example, the response could present all entries as "Date - Item - Cost". Bolding of individual entries is permissible.
The response should standardize the way it presents the currency values in the lists of entries. For example, the response could present each currency value with a standardized number of decimal places to maintain consistency.
The response should identify illogical/out-of-place entries in the list of expenses. For example, the response should point out the costs for "Replacement screen mesh", "Bubble wrap roll" and "03/08/2025 — Blank sweatshirts" are all inconsistent with the correct rolling bank balance.
The response should present a list of all the entries presented in chronological order. The correct order for the entries is as follows: 01/03/2025 — Blank sweatshirts, 04/03/2025 — Screen-printing ink: black, 12/03/2025 — Etsy listing fees, 25/03/2025 — Packaging mailer bags, 02/04/2025 — Blank sweatshirts, 04/05/2025 — Screen-printing ink: white, 09/05/2025 — Replacement squeegee, 13/05/2025 — Postage labels, 06/07/2025 — Shopify domain renewal, 07/07/2025 — Polyester screens, 11/07/2025 — Packaging mailer bags, 03/08/2025 — Blank sweatshirts, 15/08/2025 — Etsy transaction fees, 26/08/2025 — Screen-printing ink: black, 04/09/2025 — Bubble wrap roll, 05/09/2025 — Heat-resistant tape, 14/09/2025 — Replacement screen mesh, 23/09/2025 — Postage labels, 01/10/2025 — Blank sweatshirts, 07/10/2025 — Screen-printing ink: red.
The response should present a second list of non-recurring expenses. The non-recurring items are as follows: 14/09/2025 — Replacement screen mesh (Materials) — £1.62, 05/09/2025 — Heat-resistant tape (Materials) — £8.49, 09/05/2025 — Replacement squeegee (Equipment) — £12.00, 04/05/2025 — Screen-printing ink: white (Materials) — £18.50, 07/10/2025 — Screen-printing ink: red (Materials) — £21.50, 07/07/2025 — Polyester screens (Materials) — £27.90, 04/09/2025 — Bubble wrap roll (Shipping Supplies) — £79.90, 02/04/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £95.20, 01/10/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £95.20, 01/03/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £142.80, 03/08/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £146.80.
The response should include a separate header for a non-recurring expenses list.
The response should order the list of non-recurring expenses from the lowest cost to the highest cost. The correct order is as follows: 14/09/2025 — Replacement screen mesh (Materials) — £1.62, 05/09/2025 — Heat-resistant tape (Materials) — £8.49, 09/05/2025 — Replacement squeegee (Equipment) — £12.00, 04/05/2025 — Screen-printing ink: white (Materials) — £18.50, 07/10/2025 — Screen-printing ink: red (Materials) — £21.50, 07/07/2025 — Polyester screens (Materials) — £27.90, 04/09/2025 — Bubble wrap roll (Shipping Supplies) — £79.90, 02/04/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £95.20, 01/10/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £95.20, 01/03/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £142.80, 03/08/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £146.80.
The response should use bolding to indicate all entries that have discrepancies. For example, the following three expenses did not line up with the associated changes in the overall balance, and should be bolded in the non-recurring items list: 14/09/2025 — Replacement screen mesh (Materials) — £1.62; 04/09/2025 — Bubble wrap roll (Shipping Supplies) — £79.90; 03/08/2025 — Blank sweatshirts (Inventory) — £146.80.
The response should include a section after the lists that provides a short explanation for the bolded items.
The response should not use bullet points for any of the lists.
The response should not use tables for any of the lists.