diff --git a/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.test.ts b/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.test.ts
index 6e1d37d..e929180 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.test.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.test.ts
@@ -321,6 +321,22 @@ describe('registerDmAssistant', () => {
 
     bot.api.config.use(async (_prev, method, payload) => {
       calls.push({ method, payload })
+
+      if (method === 'sendMessage') {
+        return {
+          ok: true,
+          result: {
+            message_id: calls.length,
+            date: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
+            chat: {
+              id: 123456,
+              type: 'private'
+            },
+            text: (payload as { text?: string }).text ?? 'ok'
+          }
+        } as never
+      }
+
       return {
         ok: true,
         result: true
@@ -356,11 +372,19 @@ describe('registerDmAssistant', () => {
 
     await bot.handleUpdate(privateMessageUpdate('How much do I still owe this month?') as never)
 
-    expect(calls).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(calls).toHaveLength(2)
     expect(calls[0]).toMatchObject({
       method: 'sendMessage',
       payload: {
         chat_id: 123456,
+        text: 'Working on it...'
+      }
+    })
+    expect(calls[1]).toMatchObject({
+      method: 'editMessageText',
+      payload: {
+        chat_id: 123456,
+        message_id: 1,
         text: 'You still owe 350.00 GEL this cycle.'
       }
     })
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.ts b/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.ts
index 4a4815d..2e3d7e1 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/dm-assistant.ts
@@ -234,6 +234,57 @@ function paymentProposalReplyMarkup(locale: BotLocale, proposalId: string) {
   }
 }
 
+interface PendingAssistantReply {
+  chatId: number
+  messageId: number
+}
+
+async function sendAssistantProcessingReply(
+  ctx: Context,
+  text: string
+): Promise<PendingAssistantReply | null> {
+  const message = await ctx.reply(text)
+
+  if (!message?.chat?.id || typeof message.message_id !== 'number') {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  return {
+    chatId: message.chat.id,
+    messageId: message.message_id
+  }
+}
+
+async function finalizeAssistantReply(
+  ctx: Context,
+  pendingReply: PendingAssistantReply | null,
+  text: string,
+  replyMarkup?: {
+    inline_keyboard: Array<
+      Array<{
+        text: string
+        callback_data: string
+      }>
+    >
+  }
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (!pendingReply) {
+    await ctx.reply(text, replyMarkup ? { reply_markup: replyMarkup } : undefined)
+    return
+  }
+
+  try {
+    await ctx.api.editMessageText(
+      pendingReply.chatId,
+      pendingReply.messageId,
+      text,
+      replyMarkup ? { reply_markup: replyMarkup } : {}
+    )
+  } catch {
+    await ctx.reply(text, replyMarkup ? { reply_markup: replyMarkup } : undefined)
+  }
+}
+
 function parsePaymentProposalPayload(
   payload: Record<string, unknown>
 ): PaymentProposalPayload | null {
@@ -669,6 +720,7 @@ export function registerDmAssistant(options: {
       householdConfigurationRepository: options.householdConfigurationRepository,
       financeService
     })
+    const pendingReply = await sendAssistantProcessingReply(ctx, t.processing)
 
     try {
       const reply = await options.assistant.respond({
@@ -706,7 +758,7 @@ export function registerDmAssistant(options: {
         'DM assistant reply generated'
       )
 
-      await ctx.reply(reply.text)
+      await finalizeAssistantReply(ctx, pendingReply, reply.text)
     } catch (error) {
       options.logger?.error(
         {
@@ -717,7 +769,7 @@ export function registerDmAssistant(options: {
         },
         'DM assistant reply failed'
       )
-      await ctx.reply(t.unavailable)
+      await finalizeAssistantReply(ctx, pendingReply, t.unavailable)
     }
   })
 }
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/en.ts b/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
index dec2813..2757a30 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ export const enBotTranslations: BotTranslationCatalog = {
   },
   assistant: {
     unavailable: 'The assistant is temporarily unavailable. Try again in a moment.',
+    processing: 'Working on it...',
     noHousehold:
       'I can help after your Telegram account is linked to a household. Open the household group and complete the join flow first.',
     multipleHouseholds:
@@ -190,6 +191,7 @@ export const enBotTranslations: BotTranslationCatalog = {
   },
   purchase: {
     sharedPurchaseFallback: 'shared purchase',
+    processing: 'Checking that purchase...',
     proposal: (summary) => `I think this shared purchase was: ${summary}. Confirm or cancel below.`,
     clarification: (question) => question,
     clarificationMissingAmountAndCurrency:
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/ru.ts b/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/ru.ts
index ae858fe..0626702 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/ru.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/i18n/locales/ru.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ export const ruBotTranslations: BotTranslationCatalog = {
   },
   assistant: {
     unavailable: 'Ассистент сейчас недоступен. Попробуйте ещё раз чуть позже.',
+    processing: 'Сейчас разберусь...',
     noHousehold:
       'Я смогу помочь после того, как ваш Telegram-профиль будет привязан к дому. Сначала откройте группу дома и завершите вступление.',
     multipleHouseholds:
@@ -193,6 +194,7 @@ export const ruBotTranslations: BotTranslationCatalog = {
   },
   purchase: {
     sharedPurchaseFallback: 'общая покупка',
+    processing: 'Проверяю покупку...',
     proposal: (summary) => `Похоже, это общая покупка: ${summary}. Подтвердите или отмените ниже.`,
     clarification: (question) => question,
     clarificationMissingAmountAndCurrency:
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/i18n/types.ts b/apps/bot/src/i18n/types.ts
index 6a57886..743b8a6 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/i18n/types.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/i18n/types.ts
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ export interface BotTranslationCatalog {
   }
   assistant: {
     unavailable: string
+    processing: string
     noHousehold: string
     multipleHouseholds: string
     rateLimited: (retryDelay: string) => string
@@ -207,6 +208,7 @@ export interface BotTranslationCatalog {
   }
   purchase: {
     sharedPurchaseFallback: string
+    processing: string
     proposal: (summary: string) => string
     clarification: (question: string) => string
     clarificationMissingAmountAndCurrency: string
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.test.ts b/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.test.ts
index 7d32cff..ad30bd4 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.test.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.test.ts
@@ -385,6 +385,103 @@ describe('registerPurchaseTopicIngestion', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  test('sends a processing reply and edits it when an interpreter is configured', async () => {
+    const bot = createTestBot()
+    const calls: Array<{ method: string; payload: unknown }> = []
+
+    bot.api.config.use(async (_prev, method, payload) => {
+      calls.push({ method, payload })
+
+      if (method === 'sendMessage') {
+        return {
+          ok: true,
+          result: {
+            message_id: calls.length,
+            date: Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000),
+            chat: {
+              id: Number(config.householdChatId),
+              type: 'supergroup'
+            },
+            text: (payload as { text?: string }).text ?? 'ok'
+          }
+        } as never
+      }
+
+      return {
+        ok: true,
+        result: true
+      } as never
+    })
+
+    const repository: PurchaseMessageIngestionRepository = {
+      async save() {
+        return {
+          status: 'pending_confirmation',
+          purchaseMessageId: 'proposal-1',
+          parsedAmountMinor: 3000n,
+          parsedCurrency: 'GEL',
+          parsedItemDescription: 'toilet paper',
+          parserConfidence: 92,
+          parserMode: 'llm'
+        }
+      },
+      async confirm() {
+        throw new Error('not used')
+      },
+      async cancel() {
+        throw new Error('not used')
+      }
+    }
+
+    registerPurchaseTopicIngestion(bot, config, repository, {
+      interpreter: async () => ({
+        decision: 'purchase',
+        amountMinor: 3000n,
+        currency: 'GEL',
+        itemDescription: 'toilet paper',
+        confidence: 92,
+        parserMode: 'llm',
+        clarificationQuestion: null
+      })
+    })
+
+    await bot.handleUpdate(purchaseUpdate('Bought toilet paper 30 gel') as never)
+
+    expect(calls).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(calls[0]).toMatchObject({
+      method: 'sendMessage',
+      payload: {
+        chat_id: Number(config.householdChatId),
+        text: 'Checking that purchase...',
+        reply_parameters: {
+          message_id: 55
+        }
+      }
+    })
+    expect(calls[1]).toMatchObject({
+      method: 'editMessageText',
+      payload: {
+        chat_id: Number(config.householdChatId),
+        message_id: 1,
+        text: 'I think this shared purchase was: toilet paper - 30.00 GEL. Confirm or cancel below.',
+        reply_markup: {
+          inline_keyboard: [
+            [
+              {
+                text: 'Confirm',
+                callback_data: 'purchase:confirm:proposal-1'
+              },
+              {
+                text: 'Cancel',
+                callback_data: 'purchase:cancel:proposal-1'
+              }
+            ]
+          ]
+        }
+      }
+    })
+  })
+
   test('does not reply for duplicate deliveries or non-purchase chatter', async () => {
     const bot = createTestBot()
     const calls: Array<{ method: string; payload: unknown }> = []
diff --git a/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.ts b/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.ts
index 170b7c4..0734e35 100644
--- a/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.ts
+++ b/apps/bot/src/purchase-topic-ingestion.ts
@@ -292,6 +292,76 @@ async function replyToPurchaseMessage(
   })
 }
 
+interface PendingPurchaseReply {
+  chatId: number
+  messageId: number
+}
+
+async function sendPurchaseProcessingReply(
+  ctx: Context,
+  text: string
+): Promise<PendingPurchaseReply | null> {
+  const message = ctx.msg
+  if (!message) {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  const reply = await ctx.reply(text, {
+    reply_parameters: {
+      message_id: message.message_id
+    }
+  })
+
+  if (!reply?.chat?.id || typeof reply.message_id !== 'number') {
+    return null
+  }
+
+  return {
+    chatId: reply.chat.id,
+    messageId: reply.message_id
+  }
+}
+
+async function finalizePurchaseReply(
+  ctx: Context,
+  pendingReply: PendingPurchaseReply | null,
+  text: string | null,
+  replyMarkup?: {
+    inline_keyboard: Array<
+      Array<{
+        text: string
+        callback_data: string
+      }>
+    >
+  }
+): Promise<void> {
+  if (!text) {
+    if (pendingReply) {
+      try {
+        await ctx.api.deleteMessage(pendingReply.chatId, pendingReply.messageId)
+      } catch {}
+    }
+
+    return
+  }
+
+  if (!pendingReply) {
+    await replyToPurchaseMessage(ctx, text, replyMarkup)
+    return
+  }
+
+  try {
+    await ctx.api.editMessageText(
+      pendingReply.chatId,
+      pendingReply.messageId,
+      text,
+      replyMarkup ? { reply_markup: replyMarkup } : {}
+    )
+  } catch {
+    await replyToPurchaseMessage(ctx, text, replyMarkup)
+  }
+}
+
 function toCandidateFromContext(ctx: Context): PurchaseTopicCandidate | null {
   const message = ctx.message
   if (!message || !('text' in message)) {
@@ -728,7 +798,8 @@ async function handlePurchaseMessageResult(
   record: PurchaseTopicRecord,
   result: PurchaseMessageIngestionResult,
   locale: BotLocale,
-  logger: Logger | undefined
+  logger: Logger | undefined,
+  pendingReply: PendingPurchaseReply | null = null
 ): Promise<void> {
   if (result.status !== 'duplicate') {
     logger?.info(
@@ -747,12 +818,9 @@ async function handlePurchaseMessageResult(
   }
 
   const acknowledgement = buildPurchaseAcknowledgement(result, locale)
-  if (!acknowledgement) {
-    return
-  }
-
-  await replyToPurchaseMessage(
+  await finalizePurchaseReply(
     ctx,
+    pendingReply,
     acknowledgement,
     result.status === 'pending_confirmation'
       ? purchaseProposalReplyMarkup(locale, result.purchaseMessageId)
@@ -921,8 +989,11 @@ export function registerPurchaseTopicIngestion(
     }
 
     try {
+      const pendingReply = options.interpreter
+        ? await sendPurchaseProcessingReply(ctx, getBotTranslations('en').purchase.processing)
+        : null
       const result = await repository.save(record, options.interpreter, 'GEL')
-      await handlePurchaseMessageResult(ctx, record, result, 'en', options.logger)
+      await handlePurchaseMessageResult(ctx, record, result, 'en', options.logger, pendingReply)
     } catch (error) {
       options.logger?.error(
         {
@@ -986,13 +1057,16 @@ export function registerConfiguredPurchaseTopicIngestion(
         householdConfigurationRepository,
         record.householdId
       )
+      const pendingReply = options.interpreter
+        ? await sendPurchaseProcessingReply(ctx, getBotTranslations(locale).purchase.processing)
+        : null
       const result = await repository.save(
         record,
         options.interpreter,
         billingSettings.settlementCurrency
       )
 
-      await handlePurchaseMessageResult(ctx, record, result, locale, options.logger)
+      await handlePurchaseMessageResult(ctx, record, result, locale, options.logger, pendingReply)
     } catch (error) {
       options.logger?.error(
         {