diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d7f9de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Exclude everything by default
+*
+
+# Allow specific files
+!.gitignore
+!README.md
+!*.py
+!requirements.txt
+!LICENSE
+
+# Explicitly exclude sensitive/output files (redundant but clear)
+*.pdf
+*.xlsx
+*.xls
+*.csv
+*.json
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
+.DS_Store