The Dais · StorySeed · Lesson Zero — Part B
If Someone Is Spending Money on You —
What Are They Buying?
A financial literacy and personal safety workbook. Your numbers from Part A carry over.
Your progress is saved automatically on this device.
The question this workbook asks
You now know what you cost per month. Hold onto that number.
When someone who is not your parent or guardian spends money on you — pays for things, buys gifts, covers your phone bill, gives you cash — what do they want back?
This is not a suspicious question. It is a financial literacy question. Parents spend money on you because they are responsible for you. Everyone else is making a choice. Understanding why they made it keeps you safe.
Part B · Step 1 of 4
What Has This Person Spent on You?
Think of one person outside your immediate family who has bought you things, paid for things, or given you money or gifts. It could be someone you met online or in person. If you can't think of anyone, this is a useful preview for the future.
| What they gave / paid for | When | Value $ |
|---|---|---|
| Total this person has spent on me | $0.00 | |
Part B · Step 2 of 4
Can They Actually Afford This?
Before you decide how you feel about someone's generosity — ask whether it makes sense given what they do for a living. This is not rude. This is math.
Look up their salary
Go to bls.gov/ooh or Google: "[their job title] average salary Colorado Springs"
—
Annual ÷ 12
—
—
Enter salary above to calculate.
What the percentage tells you
Under 5% — within normal range for someone who genuinely cares about you.
5–15% — notable. Worth paying attention to. What is it connected to?
Over 15% consistently — this is a signal worth taking seriously. Nobody spends that much on someone they barely know without expecting something in return.
Part B · Step 3 of 4
What It Feels Like vs. What It Actually Is
Grooming does not start with danger. It starts with someone who seems to really understand you. Here is what the pattern looks like from both sides.
| What it feels like | What it actually is |
|---|---|
| "Someone finally gets me" | They are listening for what you are missing so they can provide it deliberately |
| "They treat me better than people my age" | They are building a comparison that slowly isolates you from your peers |
| "They give without asking for anything" | The ask comes later, after the gift has created a sense of obligation |
| "They are the only one who really listens" | Isolation from other support systems is deliberate, not a coincidence |
| "They talk to me like an adult" | Flattery designed to make you feel special and more mature than you are |
| "Our relationship is special and private" | Secrecy is not romantic. It is a warning sign. |
| "My parents would not understand us" | This means: do not tell the people responsible for keeping you safe |
The Checklist — Is This Person for Real?
Check every box that is true for the person you're thinking about.
Green Flags — these suggest genuine care
Green flags checked:
0
out of 6
Warning Flags — talk to a trusted adult if you check any of these
Warning flags checked:
0
out of 9. If you checked any, please read the next section.
Part B · Step 4 of 4
You Are Not in Trouble. You Have Options.
If something in this workbook made you think of a real situation — you are not in trouble. You have not done anything wrong. And you have options.
Accepting a gift does not mean you agreed to anything else.
You cannot owe someone access to your body.
Not for gifts. Not for money. Not for anything.
If you are not sure — tell someone
The sentence that starts the conversation
"There is someone who has been giving me things and I am not sure what they want. Can I talk to you about it?"
That is enough. A trusted adult — a parent, counselor, teacher, coach — can help you figure out the rest. You do not have to have all the answers before you start.
If you cannot talk to someone you know
National Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888
Text HELP to 233733 · 24 hours · Confidential · No name required
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741
Free · Confidential · 24 hours · A real person responds
The last thing
You did the math on yourself in Part A. You know what you cost. You know what it means when someone is spending money that doesn't add up.
You are not paranoid for asking questions. You are just someone who knows what they are worth.
