diff --git a/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el b/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el
index d81cd3d..9c63444 100644
--- a/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el
+++ b/thoom-emacs/modules/thoom-tweaks.el
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@
 ;; automatically cleanup whitespace on save
 (add-hook 'before-save-hook 'whitespace-cleanup)
 
+;; clean up backup file spam
+(setq backup-directory-alist `(("." . "~/.saves"))
+      delete-old-versions t
+      kept-new-versions 4
+      kept-old-versions 2
+      version-control t)
+
 (use-package project
   :config
   ;; Make project.el recognize directories with a .project file as project roots