Ever looked at your library and wondered how much money you've spent on all those games you never played? The good news, or the bad news, is that Steam really does have a hidden tool that shows exactly how much you've spent since you created your account.
How to Check Your Total Spending on Steam
There are plenty of tools, such as Steam Calculator, that estimate an account's value, but Valve has an official feature for seeing what you've actually spent. According to Reddit user trotski94, you just need to follow these steps in the app:
Help > Steam Support > My account > Data related to your Steam account > External funds used
The "External funds used" entry shows the total amount you've deposited and spent on games or wallet top-ups since the day you created your account. It isn't limited to games, either: the total also covers small transactions such as in-game items, DLC, expansions, or Steam Wallet top-ups.
If you want to see your detailed purchase history, you can also go to: Help > Steam Support > My account > Data related to your Steam account > Purchase history
Or open the transaction history page here directly.
Together, these two entries give you the clearest overview of how much you've "invested" over your time gaming on the platform.
Numbers That Make Many Gamers Flinch
The author of the original post revealed that their personal spending comes to about $1.920 USD, not counting an older account from 2004. Even so, that figure is still low compared with many other Reddit users:
- One person spent $14.842 USD on games.
- Another big spender put in as much as $26.437 USD on this platform alone.
And that's not even the record. A user named stasik is said to have spent between 500.000 and 700.000 USD to reach the highest account level in the world: Level 5.960. For some people, gaming is more than a hobby. It's a form of investment in themselves and in the life they want to live.
The community also points out that the real total is far higher once you add other platforms such as Epic, GOG, and Battle.net, along with consoles, physical games, accessories, and subscription services like Game Pass and EA Play...
A Passion That Isn't Cheap, but Is Worth It
Even if the number Steam shows is enough to hurt the wallet, in reality gamers spend far more than that. Many people bought hundreds of physical game discs before the digital era, not to mention consoles, early PCs, and other platforms.
With the shift toward digital purchases, tools like "External funds used" let gamers:
- Keep better track of their spending
- Look back on how their personal hobby has grown
- Think twice when the sale season arrives
- Compare themselves with the community in a lighthearted way
After all, gaming remains one of the deepest and most varied forms of entertainment. Spending money, whether it's 1 million or 10 million VND, in exchange for thousands of hours of relaxation, interaction, and adventure is entirely justified.
If you're curious about the total you've spent on Steam, check the "External funds used" entry. It's a chance for gamers to face the facts, and also a moment to appreciate the experiences they've had. And if the number looks too big, remember: passion always has a price, and what matters is whether you feel it was worth it.
