diff --git a/.profile b/.profile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..511bae9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.profile
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# if running bash
+if [ -n "$BASH_VERSION" ]; then
+    # include .bashrc if it exists
+    if [ -f "$HOME/.bashrc" ]; then
+    . "$HOME/.bashrc"
+    fi
+fi
+
+# set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
+if [ -d "$HOME/bin" ] ; then
+    PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
+fi
+
+# set PATH so it includes user's private bin if it exists
+if [ -d "$HOME/.local/bin" ] ; then
+    PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
+fi