Strings
Change strings every three months or so with regular playing, and sooner if they look dull or feel gritty. Old strings sound lifeless and refuse to stay in tune. Wipe the strings down with a cloth after playing and they'll last considerably longer.
Where it lives
Keep the guitar away from radiators, direct sunlight and cold porches. Sudden changes in temperature and humidity are what damage instruments, not the odd bump. A stand in a normally heated room is ideal.
Tuning
Tune every single time before playing, using a clip-on tuner. Playing an out-of-tune guitar trains the ear to accept wrong notes, and it makes everything sound discouraging for no reason.
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