my-unix-setup/scripts/home_backup.sh

#!/bin/bash

# variables
BACKUP_PATH=/media/isabell/Elements\ SE/isabell_tuxedo/
NOBACKUP_FILE=$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.nobackup # in same directory as the home_backup.sh script

# backup execution
if [[ -d "$BACKUP_PATH" ]] && echo "Starting rsync backup of home directory to $BACKUP_PATH"; then
    if [[ -f "$NOBACKUP_FILE" ]] && echo "Found $NOBACKUP_FILE file, proceeding? (y/n)"; then
        read PROCEEDING
        if [[ "$PROCEEDING" == "y" ]]; then
            rsync -av --delete --filter 'dir-merge,- $NOBACKUP_FILE' "$HOME/" "$BACKUP_PATH"
        fi
    else
        echo "No $NOBACKUP_FILE found, proceeding to back-up entire home directory? (y/n)"
        read PROCEEDING
        if [[ "$PROCEEDING" == "y" ]]; then
            rsync -av --delete "$HOME/" "$BACKUP_PATH"
        fi
    fi
else
    echo "Device or location designated for the backup does not exist."
fi