You received plenty of sensible answers, pressure canning certainly is safer, though not compulsory, as some varieties are less acid than others and might cause problems though I’ve never heard of any. How long can you keep your jars ? with veggies only, without any meat, several years. Canned preparations with meat will have to be eaten sooner.
If Santa Claus is generous in your area, why not ask for an All American pressure canner (see Amazon). You just pour a few inches of water in it and you sterilize at a high pressure quickly. I agree it’s overkill if you only use it for tomatoes but it’s fast and safe. Check your finances first !
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