My first playthrough of a game I don't like using anything at all unless I get REALLY stuck- as in, "Oh for the love of God, I have been in this area for
six fucking months. Where's the fucking statue?!" (That happened to me in Skies, lol.)
Subsequent playthroughs I use strategies and codes, because they don't matter in the end. First playthroughs are special to me and I never delete original files in video games. If there are other file slots, I play and delete those files as I please.
HOWEVER, some games I need a walkthrough or codes first playthrough because I'm a sissy. Basically I need one for Silent Hill. Ahaha.