I would rather go through 10 needles a day as to have my machine labor unnecessarily! After all, I paid a lot more for the machine than I do for needles. I clean my machine after every completed project - unless I am sewing something that produces a lot of lint such as flannel or homespun and then I will check when I need a new bobbin.
Maintain your machine properly and it will be your friend - don't and the sewing gremlins will get you!