diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index dd63235..e401592 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,3 +2,35 @@
 
 Delete dated files in a directory according to a time period config.
 Useful for backup directories that accumulate files over time.
+
+## Example config
+```toml
+# Specify a folder containing backups
+path = "/backups/docker"
+
+# uncomment if the backups are btrfs subvolumes
+#btrfs = true
+
+[[periods]]
+# For the first day, keep one backup per second (basically, don't delete backups)
+# syntax supports suffixes s, m, h, d, w
+period_length = "1d"
+chunk_size = "1s"
+
+[[periods]]
+# For the next week, keep one backup per hour
+period_length = "1w"
+chunk_size = "1h"
+
+[[periods]]
+# For the next 4 weeks, keep one backup per day
+period_length = "4w"
+chunk_size = "1d"
+
+# can add more [[periods]] as needed
+```
+
+## Example usage
+```sh
+filereap --help
+```
diff --git a/example.toml b/example.toml
index 24ce146..f6d41ab 100644
--- a/example.toml
+++ b/example.toml
@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
-path = "./test"
+# Specify a folder containing backups
+path = "/backups/docker"
+
+# uncomment if the backups are btrfs subvolumes
 #btrfs = true
 
 [[periods]]
-period_length = "10m"
+# For the first day, keep one backup per second (basically, don't delete backups)
+# syntax supports suffixes s, m, h, d, w
+period_length = "1d"
 chunk_size = "1s"
 
 [[periods]]
+# For the next week, keep one backup per hour
 period_length = "1w"
 chunk_size = "1h"
 
 [[periods]]
+# For the next 4 weeks, keep one backup per day
 period_length = "4w"
 chunk_size = "1d"
 
-[[periods]]
-period_length = "40w"
-chunk_size = "4w"
+# can add more [[periods]] as needed