This is the function I use to set PATH:

  function path {
    if [[ -d "$1" ]] ; then
      if [[ -z "$PATH" ]] ; then
        export PATH=$1
      else
        export PATH=$PATH:$1
      fi
    fi
  }

  export PATH=''

  path ~/.homebrew/sbin
  path ~/.homebrew/bin
  path /usr/local/sbin
  path /usr/local/bin
  path /usr/sbin
  path /usr/bin
  path /sbin
  path /bin

It simplifies the syntax.

I also like to keep vim swaps/backups/history in a centralized place (.vimrc):

  set directory=~/.vim/swaps      " centralized swaps
  set backupdir=~/.vim/backups    " centralized backups
  set undodir=~/.vim/undo         " centralized undo history

I don't like leaving ~clutter in random folders.

I also like to alias sl to ls :)

  alias sl='ls'

Other than that, the least you have to configure the better.

You can check my dotfiles here: https://github.com/krmbzds/dotfiles