With a family of cyclists, I check a lot of chains, with a ruler according to the typical criterion -- 1/16 out of 12". If the gears skip after a new chain, then I replace the cogs. I've only replaced one chain ring ever, that had been on multiple iterations of my commuting bike over the span of more than 20 years. I ride about 3k miles per year and replace one chain per year, maybe 2 chains per year for the family overall. I don't ride enough to warrant checking any chain more than once a year, so the ruler is handy enough for my use.