There is no doubt about it, one of the most expensive things that you can buy is a household computer. However, there is no getting around the purchase as nearly everything is done on the computer now. So once you have laid down the money, making sure that the computer is always maintained becomes extremely important or you will be putting all that money down again on a new computer.
The first thing that you absolutely need to know is that while a computer is durable it is not heat and cold resistant. Make sure that you are not soring your computer somewhere that gets extremely hot like the inside of a hot car. The same can be said for keeping the computer somewhere cold. Never store a computer in a shed or outside during the winter.
Second, make sure that you have installed spyware to prevent your computer from getting a virus. Many people think that if they are just careful their computer will never get a virus. That is not the case. Your computer can get a virus if you are opening emails, surfing the web, or reading the news online. There are thousands of viruses out there and if your computer is not protected it can be a huge problem. There are different types of viruses as well, so get a spyware system that protects against everything.
Finally, make sure to keep your computer clean. Like every other appliance you own if it is not clean and maintained it will start to function poorly. Dust the computer so that fibers do not get inside the computer and make sure that nothing is near the computer that can damage it. Never allow food or drink around the computer. Messy things can happen when a child spills juice on a computer.