# Stay in control

> Your helper does a lot on its own. Here's how you stop it, slow it down, and keep an eye on what it costs.

Lesson 8 of 8 · 4 min read

## Stop, any time

While a task works, Send turns into **Stop**. There's a Stop in the task header and on the Activity card too, and **Stop all** when several tasks are working. Stopping keeps what's done.

## Choose spending pauses

**Settings → General → Usage → Pause to check spending** is on by default: costly, long or repetitive work pauses with **Keep going** or **Stop here**. If you turn it off, work can use all available credits without those pauses or the daily safety cap. Purchases and other approvals still apply. See [spending controls](https://1helm.com/docs/working/#runaway-protection).

## Protected actions need confirmation

Your request authorizes ordinary app work, including emails, invitations and edits. Payment and API-key operations still use an exact-action **confirm card**; those protected actions do not run until you confirm. Purchases through Link require your approval in Link.

## Choose how careful it is

**Settings → Permissions**: Standard carries out requested work without extra confirmations, while payments and API keys stay protected. Careful also asks before reading your email and files. Locked down adds asks before using its computer or visiting websites. Your saved allowances affect which permission asks appear.

## Watch the meter

**Settings → General** shows the month's usage and storage, and you get a note at 50% and 80%. Turn on **Show estimated costs** there to see what each task has cost. See [Plans and usage](https://1helm.com/docs/billing/).

## Choose your AI privacy

**Settings → General → AI data privacy** decides which AI providers may handle your requests: Zero Data Retention, No Training or Unrestricted. See [AI data privacy](https://1helm.com/docs/privacy/ai/).

**Try it:** Start a task, press Stop, then open Settings → General and look at your usage.

---
Web page: https://1helm.com/learn/stay-in-control/