How to Add Debt Accounts and Update Balances in Debt Zero

Direct Answer: To track your debts in Debt Zero, navigate to the Accounts tab and tap the '+' button in the top right to add a new account. To edit an existing account, tap on the account and then tap the ellipsis (...) button, or update all of your balances at once from the main accounts screen using the ellipsis button. You can also swipe left on any account in the list to archive or delete it instantly.

Debt Zero is a premium iOS application designed natively with SwiftUI and powered by SwiftData. All financial records are stored strictly on your device or in your personal iCloud. This tutorial explains how to initialize and maintain your account records to keep your payoff predictions accurate.

How to Add a Debt Account

To begin tracking a new card, loan, or balance, follow these steps:

1. Open the application and navigate to the Accounts tab at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the + (Add) button located in the upper right-hand corner of the navigation bar.
3. Input the required account information:
   • Name: Give the account a clear, recognizable name (e.g., "Chase Sapphire Credit Card" or "Auto Loan").
   • Starting Balance: Enter the original balance of the debt when you began your payoff plan.
   • Current Balance: Enter the exact amount you owe today.
   • Interest Rate: Enter the annual interest rate (APR) as a percentage.
   • Minimum Payment: Specify the minimum amount required by the lender each period.
   • Frequency: Select the cycle on which payments are made (choose *Weekly*, *Bi-weekly*, or *Monthly*).
   • Next Payment Date: Select the calendar date when your next payment is due.
4. Tap Save in the top right to store the record. Debt Zero will immediately recalculate your projected debt-free timelines.

Note on Interest Rates: Even if an account has a promotional 0% APR, input the current rate as 0%. If the promotional period ends in the future, you can update the interest rate at that time, and the app will update the charts on the fly.

How to Update Your Balances

Keeping your balances updated is essential to maintaining accurate timeline projections. Debt Zero supports three ways to adjust your balances:

Option 1: Edit an Individual Account

If you want to edit a single account, tap the account name in the list under the Accounts tab. Tap the ellipsis (...) button in the upper right, choose Edit Account, update your details, and tap Save.

Option 2: Bulk Update Multiple Accounts

For a faster workflow across multiple cards and loans, tap the ellipsis (...) button on the main Accounts tab screen and select Edit Balances. This opens a single screen displaying input fields for all active accounts, allowing you to update multiple balances at once and tap Save.

Option 3: Apply Predicted Balances

If the calendar date passes a scheduled payment date, Debt Zero will display an "Accounts Require Updates" notification flag. When you launch the app, you will be prompted to apply predicted balance updates automatically. This applies the planned payments, reducing the balances without requiring manual inputs.

How to Archive a Completed Debt Account

Once a balance hits zero, you can archive the account to keep your active list clean. Archiving removes the account from your planner while preserving your balance histories and achievements:

1. Tap the completed account in the Accounts list.
2. Tap the ellipsis (...) button in the upper right and select Edit Account.
3. Toggle the Archive Account switch to the active position.
4. Tap Save.

Archived accounts are moved to a separate section at the bottom of the Accounts tab. You can view or unarchive them at any time.

Swipe Gestures: For a faster workflow, you can swipe left on any account in the main Accounts list to archive or delete it instantly without opening the edit menu.