Use 'tot up' in informal situations, like chatting with friends about expenses. We need to tot up what we spent on snacks for the movie night.
Pro Tip 2/3
Quick Calculations
'Tot up' suggests a quick, informal calculation rather than a detailed accounting process. Before we leave the flea market, let's tot up how much we've spent.
Pro Tip 3/3
Figurative Use
Sometimes 'tot up' is used to sum up non-numerical things, like experiences or events. As the year ends, we tot up our successes and failures.