Editorial policy

Last updated: November 7, 2026

SteadyZero publishes free debt-payoff calculators, guides that explain the math, and self-serve templates. This page explains where our information comes from, how pages are made and checked, how we use AI, how we make money, and how we fix mistakes.

Editorial responsibility: The operator of the Steady Zero website (steadyzero.com) is responsible for everything we publish.

1. What we cover, and what we don’t

We cover the math of paying off debt: payoff orders (snowball and avalanche), how interest and minimum payments work, 0% promotions and balance transfer math, and budgeting to free up money for payments.

We do not:

• give personalized financial, legal, tax or credit advice;
• tell anyone which specific lender, card, loan or investment to choose;
• settle or change debts, work on credit reports or scores, or negotiate with creditors;
• claim that any tool or template will improve your credit or change the terms of your debts.

2. Sources we rely on

We prefer primary sources: government agencies, regulators, statutes, and the published terms of lenders and card issuers. Each page lists the sources it uses, with links. Our main sources include:

We may also cite peer-reviewed research or established industry data. When we do, we name the source and its date. We don’t cite anonymous or unverifiable statistics. If we can’t verify a number, we leave it out or label it clearly as an estimate.

3. How a page is made

1. Pick a real question people ask about paying off debt. We publish a page only if it adds something useful: a working calculator, a worked example with real math, or an original table. We don’t publish near-duplicate pages that just swap in different numbers.
2. Research and draft. We draft from the primary sources above. Drafts may be AI-assisted (see section 4).
3. Check every number.
   • Calculators are tested against the published test cases ; for two of them (TC1 and TC1b), the month count is also compared with the standard NPER formula.
   • Worked examples in guides use the same method and are checked against the same test cases.
4. Automated checks. Every release of our calculators must pass automated tests that check them against the worked test cases on our methodology page; a mismatch blocks the release. The math follows our Methodology. Pages are drafted with AI assistance. The operator of the Steady Zero website (steadyzero.com) is responsible for the site and fixes errors reported to support@steadyzero.com.
5. Dates. Each page shows when it was last substantively updated. We don’t change dates without changing content.

Language rules we follow:

• No promises of results.
• No claims that our tools will change your credit score or your interest rates.
• No fear-based urgency.
• Plain English, with every term defined the first time it’s used.

4. AI and automation

We use AI tools to help draft text, generate code, summarize sources and check formatting. Our rules:

• The operator of the Steady Zero website (steadyzero.com) is accountable for the site.
• Calculator math is checked by automated tests: Every release of our calculators must pass automated tests that check them against the worked test cases on our methodology page; a mismatch blocks the release. The test cases are published on our Methodology page, so you can check the math yourself. Sources for factual claims are cited on the page.
• No mass-produced pages. We don’t use automation to publish large numbers of thin or near-identical pages.
• Images that are AI-generated or substantially AI-edited are labeled as such.

5. Reviews and testimonials

We don’t publish customer reviews or testimonials at launch. If we add them later, they’ll be from real customers, with their written permission, and we never edit them in a way that changes their meaning. We don’t write, buy, or incentivize reviews conditioned on a positive rating, and we don’t suppress negative ones. We don’t publish testimonials about financial results, such as amounts paid off or money saved. This follows the FTC’s rule on consumer reviews and testimonials (16 CFR Part 465) and its Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255).

6. Advertising and affiliate policy

At launch, SteadyZero has no advertising and no affiliate links. Paid Excel and printable templates will be available here when checkout opens.

If we add ads or affiliate links in the future:

• We’ll update this page first, with the date and what changed.
• Every affiliate link will be disclosed right next to it in plain language. For example: “We earn a commission if you apply through this link. It doesn’t change your price or the math in our calculators.” A bare label like “affiliate link” or a footer note alone isn’t enough (FTC: Endorsement Guides FAQ).
• Affiliate and sponsored links will carry rel="sponsored" in the code.
• Calculator math is never changed for money. No partner can pay to change a result, a ranking, or which option a calculator shows as cheaper.
• Ads will be clearly labeled and kept visually separate from calculator inputs and results.
• We won’t promote services that settle or negotiate debts, or that promise to change credit reports or scores.
• Our templates are self-serve tools. We won’t recommend them as a substitute for professional help when someone needs it.

7. Corrections

If you find an error, email support@steadyzero.com with the page URL and what you think is wrong.

• We aim to review reports within 5 business days.
• Factual or math errors are corrected promptly. If the error could have materially misled readers, we add a dated correction note at the bottom of the page describing what changed.
• Calculator errors are logged in the Methodology changelog and become new test cases.
• Minor edits (typos, formatting) are made without a note.

8. Independence

No lender, card issuer, advertiser or other company reviews or approves our content before publication.

Educational content only. Not financial, legal, tax or credit advice. See our Disclaimer.