diff --git a/man/simple_backup.1 b/man/simple_backup.1
index 79b09fc..e43e344 100644
--- a/man/simple_backup.1
+++ b/man/simple_backup.1
@@ -83,6 +83,9 @@ if saving bandwith is needed.
 Remove old backups (if necessary) before creating the new backup. Useful to free some space
 before performing the backup.
 Default behavior is to remove old backups after successfully completing the backup.
+.TP
+.B \-\-no\-syslog
+Don't use systemd journal for logging
 .SH CONFIGURATION
 An example configuration file is provided at \(aq/etc/simple_backup/simple_backup.conf\(aq.
 Copy it to the default location ($HOME/.config/simple_backup) and edit it as needed.
diff --git a/simple_backup/simple_backup.conf b/simple_backup/simple_backup.conf
index 1b64aab..4806436 100644
--- a/simple_backup/simple_backup.conf
+++ b/simple_backup/simple_backup.conf
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 # Example config file for simple_backup
 
 [backup]
-# Input directories. Use a comma to separate items
+# Files and directories to backup. Multiple items can be separated using a comma (','). It is possible to use wildcards (i.e. '*' to match multiple characters and '~' for the user's home directory).
 inputs=/home/my_home,/etc
 
-# Output directory
+# Output directory.
 backup_dir=/media/Backup
 
-# Exclude patterns. Use a comma to separate items
-exclude=.gvfs,.local/share/gvfs-metadata,.cache,.dbus,.Trash,.local/share/Trash,.macromedia,.adobe,.recently-used,.recently-used.xbel,.thumbnails
+# Files, directories and patterns to exclude from the backup. Multiple items can be separated using a comma.
+exclude=*.bak
 
-# Number of snapshots to keep (use -1 to keep all)
+# Number of old backups (i.e. excluding the one that's being created) to keep (use -1 to keep all)
 keep=-1
 
 # Uncomment the following section to enable backup to remote server through ssh
-#[server]
-#host=
-#username=
-#ssh_keyfile=
\ No newline at end of file
+# [server]
+# host=
+# username=
+# ssh_keyfile=
diff --git a/simple_backup/simple_backup.py b/simple_backup/simple_backup.py
index 4176423..e564d84 100755
--- a/simple_backup/simple_backup.py
+++ b/simple_backup/simple_backup.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from subprocess import Popen, PIPE, STDOUT
 from datetime import datetime
 from tempfile import mkstemp
 from getpass import getpass
+from glob import glob
 
 from dotenv import load_dotenv
 import paramiko
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ if euid == 0:
     user = os.getenv('SUDO_USER')
     homedir = os.path.expanduser(f'~{user}')
 else:
+    user = os.getenv('USER')
     homedir = os.getenv('HOME')
 
 logging.getLogger().setLevel(logging.DEBUG)
@@ -501,12 +503,27 @@ def _parse_arguments():
     parser.add_argument('-z', '--compress', action='store_true', help='Compress data during the transfer')
     parser.add_argument('--remove-before-backup', action='store_true',
                         help='Remove old backups before executing the backup, instead of after')
+    parser.add_argument('--no-syslog', action='store_true', help='Disable systemd journal logging')
 
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     return args
 
 
+def _expand_inputs(inputs):
+    expanded_inputs = []
+
+    for i in inputs:
+        i_ex = glob(os.path.expanduser(i.replace('~', f'~{user}')))
+
+        if len(i_ex) == 0:
+            logger.warning('No file or directory matching input %s. Skipping...', i)
+        else:
+            expanded_inputs.extend(glob(os.path.expanduser(i.replace('~', f'~{user}'))))
+
+    return expanded_inputs
+
+
 def _read_config(config_file):
     if not os.path.isfile(config_file):
         logger.warning('Config file %s does not exist', config_file)
@@ -518,7 +535,10 @@ def _read_config(config_file):
 
     inputs = config.get('backup', 'inputs')
     inputs = inputs.split(',')
+    inputs = _expand_inputs(inputs)
+    inputs = list(set(inputs))
     output = config.get('backup', 'backup_dir')
+    output = os.path.expanduser(output.replace('~', f'~{user}'))
     exclude = config.get('backup', 'exclude')
     exclude = exclude.split(',')
     keep = config.getint('backup', 'keep')
@@ -560,6 +580,13 @@ def simple_backup():
     """Main"""
 
     args = _parse_arguments()
+
+    if args.no_syslog:
+        try:
+            logger.removeHandler(j_handler)
+        except NameError:
+            pass
+
     inputs, output, exclude, keep, host, username, ssh_keyfile = _read_config(args.config)
 
     if args.input is not None: