How to keep bikes from breaking down after a few years?

I am somewhat of an avid biker... I don't really drive, my city is small enough so that I can get anywhere pretty much on my bike. Twice a day to get to school at the minimum, and them often to go to other places. I also bike during the winter - and where I am it snows quite a bit 6 months of the year, so I get out my snow tires and rough it out anyway.

However, my bikes seem to keep falling apart. I admit I don't clean them as often as I should, but they always seem to be having problems to an unbelievable degree. Broken axles, rusted chains, broken/faulty gear system, you name it. After 2-3 years fixing them costs as much as getting a new one...

Am I doing something wrong here? It doesn't seem to matter what kind of bike I get, they all break down. Are bikes these days just disposable pieces of crap in general? Is it the weather? Thanks for your help.
 
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