Setup

This tutorial describes the general process of setting up your debt snowball in Pay Off Debt for Android.

Initial Setup

The first time you use the Pay Off Debt application, a notification will appear letting you know that first-time setup is complete. Tap OK, and then reopen the app.

Settings Screen

Once the initial setup is complete, the next time you open the app it will go to the Settings screen. (You can also access the Settings screen later by tapping your phone’s Menu key while on the Debts screen, and then tapping Settings.)

  1. The Snowball is on by default. If you want to turn the snowball option off, tap Snowball. Otherwise, skip this step.
  2. Tap additional amount. A dialog will appear.
  3. Tap in the dialog. A keyboard will appear.
  4. Enter the additional amount that you intend to send to the first debt in your list each month. This is the amount in addition to your minimum payment for that debt.
  5. Tap OK
  6. Sort Debts by is set to Lowest Balance by default. If you want to change the order for your snowball, tap Sort Debts by. A drop down menu will appear.
  7. Tap the drop down menu and choose the desired option (Lowest Balance, Highest Interest Rate, or Custom Order
    Note: If you choose Custom Order you will need to return to the Sort Debts by Custom Order screen to arrange your debts after you have entered them.
  8. Tap your phone’s Back key return to the Settings screen.

Adding A Debt

  1. Tap Add Debt on the Settings screen.
  2. Enter the Name, Type, Amount Owed, Current Balance, Interest Rate (APR), Due Date, and Minimum Monthly Payment.
  3. Tap Save. You will be taken to the Debts screen, and the debt you entered will appear.
  4. To enter additional debts, tap your phone’s Menu key.
  5. Tap Add Debt.
  6. Repeat steps 2 and 3.
  7. When you are done entering your debts, if you have chosen Custom Order for your snowball follow the Sort Debts by Custom Order steps below.

Sort Debts by Custom Order

Once you have entered your debts, you can change them to a custom order by following the steps below. If you have your debts set to sort by the default of Lowest Balance or by Highest Interest Rate, skip this section.

  1. From the Debts screen, tap your phone’s Menu key.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap Sort Debts by. If you have previously selected Custom Order, you will now be on the Custom Order screen. If not, tap Custom Order.
  4. Tap the debt you wish to move. It will be highlighted in orange.
  5. Tap the blue up or down arrows to move the debt up or down in the list.
  6. Repeat step 5 for each debt you want to move until they are arranged in the desired order.
  7. Tap Save.

Email Addresses

  1. If you want to enter email addresses to send your debt snowball information to, tap Email Addresses. The Email Addresses screen will appear.
  2. Tap in the field at the top of the screen. The keyboard will appear.
  3. Enter the desired email address.
  4. Tap OK.
  5. Repeat for each email address you want to enter.
  6. Tap your phone’s Back key to return to the Settings screen.

Setting a Password

Important: If you set a password and later forget it, I have no way of getting it back. Your data will be inaccessible if you forget it, so please use this feature with care.

  1. Tap Set Password on the Settings screen. The Enter a new password dialog will appear.
  2. Tap in the dialog. A keyboard will appear.
  3. Enter the desired password.
  4. Tap OK. The Confirm password dialog will appear.
  5. Tap in the dialog. A keyboard will appear.
  6. Re-enter the password.
  7. Tap OK.
  8. A message dialog will appear saying, “Are you sure you want to set a password? Lost passwords cannot be recovered, and your data will be inaccessible.”
  9. If you have changed your mind and do not want to set a password, tap Cancel. Otherwise, tap OK to set the password.

(To remove or change a previously added password, tap Set Password again and follow the prompts.)