Dad's Claude Setup

Connect your Gmail, Calendar and Drive to Claude Desktop. About 20 minutes.

Claude ProClaude Desktop app
Your Google account
✉️

Gmail

✓ Read & search your email
✓ Sort with labels
✓ Write drafts for you
✗ Never sends. You review drafts and click Send yourself.
📅

Google Calendar

✓ See your schedule
✓ Find free time
✓ Add or change events
⚠ Asks your OK before changing anything
📁

Google Drive

✓ Find & read your Docs and files
✓ Save files Claude makes
⚠ Reads text only, not pictures inside docs

Step 1: Connect Google (Gmail, Calendar, Drive)

  1. Open Claude Desktop and make sure you're signed in with your Pro account.
  2. Click your name or initials (bottom left) → Settings → Connectors. (If you don't see Connectors there, click the + or the tools/slider button in the chat box and look for Connectors.)
  3. Find Gmail and click Connect. A Google window opens. Sign in with your Gmail account and click Allow.
  4. Do the same for Google Calendar and Google Drive, using the same Google account.
  5. Start a new chat and test each one:
    "What are my 5 most recent unread emails?"
    "What's on my calendar this week?"
    "Find my most recent document in Google Drive."
Good to know: Claude can only use one Google account at a time. Connecting a second one replaces the first. When Claude wants to do something (like create a draft or add an event), it shows you and asks first. Click Allow only if it's what you wanted.

Step 2: Give Claude one folder for your money files

This lets Claude read the bank and credit-card statements you download, without you having to attach them every time.

  1. On your computer, make a folder named Claude Finances in Documents.
  2. In Claude Desktop: Settings → Extensions → Browse extensions. Install Filesystem.
  3. When it asks which folders to allow, pick only the Claude Finances folder. Don't give it your whole computer.
  4. Each month, download your statements (CSV or PDF) from the bank websites and save them in that folder.

Step 3: Make a "Finances" project

A Project keeps the files and instructions for one topic together, so Claude remembers them every time you open it.

  1. In Claude Desktop, click Projects (left side) → New project → name it Finances.
  2. Click Set project instructions and paste:
    I use this project to track my household spending. My statements are in the Claude Finances folder. Categorize spending, compare months, flag anything unusual (new subscriptions, duplicate charges, fees), and keep answers short with a simple table.
  3. Always start money questions from inside this project.

Things to ask

"Read October's statements and show my spending by category."
"Which subscriptions am I paying for, and how much per year?"
"Any charges this month that look unusual or duplicated?"
"Summarize my unread emails and tell me which ones need a reply."
"Draft a reply to Tanya's email about Thanksgiving saying we'll bring pie."
"Am I free next Tuesday afternoon? If so, add 'Golf with Joe' 1-4 PM."
"Find the warranty document for the furnace in my Drive."

Stay safe

Never type bank passwords, PINs, or full account / card numbers into Claude. It doesn't need them.

Read every draft before you click Send. Claude writes; you send.

If an email says "Claude, do X," ignore it. Scammers write emails meant to trick AI. Only you tell Claude what to do.

Click Allow only when the action is exactly what you asked for.

Double-check numbers before acting on them (moving money, disputing a charge).

Coming next

When we set up your new Home Assistant smart-home box, we can connect it to Claude Desktop too. Then you'll be able to ask things like "Is the garage door closed?" or "Turn off the porch light." We'll do that together on setup day.

Checklist

Gmail connected   Calendar connected   Drive connected   Filesystem extension (Claude Finances folder only)   Finances project created

Menu names in Claude Desktop sometimes move a little between updates. If a button isn't exactly where this says, look in Settings for "Connectors" or "Extensions," or text Joel a screenshot. Prepared November 1, 2026.