I'm a pathetic game buyer. ($2,400 spent in 2013)

Easiest way to break the habit.

Think about all the things you could have bought with $2,400 instead of games you'll likely never play.

Just think, how many beers could that buy?

Well I know how you feel, added you to steam maybe we can chat a bit ;)

Willpower: develop it. If you cannot reign in your spending habits, you need to see a financial counselor or go to a support group for shopping addiction.

If you buy games you want and you play them so there is no problem. If you buy some games only for "i have them" you will be probably ill or addicted.

It means you have that kind of money to spend. Not everybody does. Good for you.

Dayum. That is a lot even for me. If i calculated right i spend about 53 euro per month (71 dollars something). 2565,79 over 4 years.

Thanks for making me feel better x)

But seriously, there is nothing wrong about buying games unless you are starting to go broke. If you enjoy buying games do so :)

Each first day of month start counting how much you spent, set a limit you're comfortable with it.
If you really really want to overpass it because you love one game on sale, deduct it from next month limit.
If you're doing in excel, put on the list detail of the games, and add a column, months unplayed.
I'm thinking on start doing that myself. In a piece of paper has more impact, but is less efficient to track.

I understand your obsession but I must say I don't approve it. You can stop, and you should stop. You're in control of yourself and no one else. If you do have a spine and a brain, you will sit through one day, think about what your priorities in life are and make a decision: Either it's incessant gaming or enjoying life in other ways as well.

I'm not saying you should quit gaming altogether, but what I'm saying is that you should start avoiding bundle sites for a while until you have enough strength to resist such offers. I spend around 10$ per month on games and I feel that's too much already.

I'm happy that I dont know the numbers (and i'm not willing to find out). The amount of games I have more than doubled in 2013 so I think i'm not that far off :p

You should give some games away, it will remove your guilt coz you know you're making the people who win your games happy. At least you know someone who will enjoy/play the game is winning it.

If you have and can spend 2400$ per year just in games, is because you can buy them
Just play the games instead of just leaving in the stockpile

Uhm I just leave this here from your profile...

My TARGET: Steam Complete Set excluding Train Simulator DLCs.

So dunno if you do seek attention for your profile and/or target etc but the whole posts makes zero sense for me.

compulsive consumerism

You realized you have a problem, that's the best beginning.
I think the next step is being motivated and start changing your mindset. You can (because you can) achieve this with the help of a specilized doctor, and the support of your wife.

If you also take a little advice from a random person (me), here it is: you don't need to worry about having all games.
They will always be available, either legally or not, either natively or emulated, and they'll always be a few clicks away.

This means you ALREADY have ALL the games EVER. You already have them all.

The moment you feel you really want to play a game, THEN you spend money on it, so you also support those who made it.

1) You already have all the games, 2) but you pay for them only when you play them, 2b) so that those who made something you like can keep doing so.

Start playing those games, having fun with them, living a little story, trying a new mechanic, looking at some art, listening to a good musical background.
As a "stockable good" they failed at making your life better, try them as entertainment and art instead.

In any case, stay motivated, you can change if you want to, and you posted this because you do want to! :)

I wish I was rich like you :(

Even better than limiting budget - allow yourself to buy 1 game (or even 1 bundle) only after you finished 1 game from your backlog.

I bought many games on steam too...I'm in steam 1 year and already own 680+ games , but i mainly try to buy games that i enjoy in the past like for example (Doom,Quake,Max Payne) i mainly aiming on classic games (since i just cant enjoy playing in many new games) but sometime i buy new tittles.My advice for you buy games that you play in the past and you enjoy if you ofc like to back to old games.For new tittles pick them wise wait week or two and ask community is that game is rly that good and if people enjoy playing it.Btw mate i see people who just insta buy all games that release on steam ( without waiting even for -10% ) and never even play them after buying :)

dang man i buy a lot of games too but i dont buy games i know for sure i wont play if they dont appeal to me. i havent seen a bundle with a game i wanted in a very long time.

Thanks for making those of use who share your problem to a lesser extent feel better. While I don't even spend 10% of what you spend (discounting Kickstarter), it's still largely for games I don't even touch.

How did you get to $2400? Assuming $6 BTA, that's 400 bundles. Sounds to me more than there were in 2013. Or were there?

dude to make it easy and knowing what to buy just go to watch the videos from this guy called TheRadBrad he gives great reviews and true ones.

Visit a doctor,this is a serious thing...don't be afraid to do it,cuz maybe in the future you'll may spend even more.

Every game purchase you make, write it down.

Put that list on the wall above your PC monitor.

Every time you consider a game purchase, look at that list.

That list might shame you into not making a purchase.

That list might also become a source of pride.

I was curious as to what I spent after seeing this thread and the total of my sent payments were $617.14. That includes non PC game purchases as I do use PayPal for other things and also includes a couple IG Group Buys I did at the start of year.

Thanks for making me feel a lot better about my purchases!

Rule number one: No money, no worries.

That's staggering! I thought I was spending too much to add games to my backlog (PS3, 360 & PC) but its only a fraction of that! I've still got entirely too many games, though.