It really depends on the game and what I'm doing. I tend to grind so I will use them occasionally since I do this ridiculously early in a title when healing magic isn't available or MP is better served slaying monsters.

In early titles I found some items useful if you want to count equipment with spell effects. They are a godsend in FFI where MP is hardly plentiful even by endgame.

About the only game where I genuinely prefer items over magic is FFTactics. I'll use a white mage to get the job levels and unlock useful classes but in cases where I need quick healing my Chemist is always there to support me. Especially when you get access to guns

I think FFXII is the other title where I use items more freely than usual just to counter the slow cast time. V-X I hardly use the items unless dealing with a Magic Pot.