diff --git a/.profile b/.profile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f643155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.profile
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# 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
+
diff --git a/.zshrc b/.zshrc
index 3d1501f..82ee8eb 100644
--- a/.zshrc
+++ b/.zshrc
@@ -42,5 +42,6 @@ if [ -z "$TMUX" ]; then
     tmux attach -t Default || tmux new -s Default
 fi
 
+source .profile
 source .aliases