If you've read my post on the development of the WACC compiler, then you may know about the scripts I wrote to automate testing of our work. This was probably the first instance of me using the power that I have with programming to create something that saved me hours of my time.
Recently, though I'd like to talk about a script that saved me £££. Booking a practical driving test in the UK is a lengthy process with people nowadays only being able to book a test 3 months in advance. Many people, like myself, do not pass a practical test on the first attempt - but could do so if they took the test again - even on the same day. Alas, waiting for 2-3 months is the norm for getting another practical test. During this time, you need to keep practicing, which can cost £50-£100 per week.
However, there is one option - finding a cancellation, the problem, however, is that they are extremely rare. Finding a cancellation is possible through accessing the website. This made me think about writing a script that would automate this, and send an email whenever a cancellation was found. Making the script change the booking for me was an option, but it was more important for myself to confirm the date and time. Within a couple of days, I was able to find a cancellation for a practical exam in the coming week. This script just saved me £££, and I was very happy with that.