Caring for Your Sewing Machine (Not an Ad)

Dear users and authors,
what do you need to do—or what should you keep in mind—to ensure you enjoy your (new) sewing machine for as long as possible?

I’ve never had a sewing machine break down—I’ve had to part ways with them for other reasons—so I’d say that if you treat them with care (for example, oiling them when they squeak or run poorly, dusting the inside every now and then, and not yanking or pulling violently if something gets caught in the bobbin—just normal things, really), then they’ll last quite a long time. It’s much harder to get used to a sewing machine, because each one has its own quirks. But once you’ve gotten to know your machine, that friendship can last a very long time.
You should just think about what you plan to do with it right from the start and maybe not go for the cheapest option. So, I think whether you’ll enjoy a sewing machine for a long time is mainly decided at the time of purchase.