# Day 2: Variables, Data Types & Conditionals in Python — With a Real Project!

By Hillary Nartey | AI Data Specialist in Training

Welcome Back!

This is Day 2 of my Python learning journey. If you missed Day 1, I shared how I got started, the free tools I am using, and why I chose Python as my first programming language.

Today I covered three important Python basics:

• Variables


• Data Types


• Conditionals (if, elif, else)

And the best part? I built a small real-world project to practice everything together!

Variables

A variable is simply a container that stores a value. Think of it like a labeled box where you keep information.

name = "Hillary"

age = 25

price = 9.99

Each of these is a variable. name stores text, age stores a whole number, and price stores a decimal number.

Data Types

In Python, every value has a data type. Here are the basic ones I learned today:

You can also tell Python exactly what type a variable should be. For example:

amount: int = int(input("Enter your shopping amount: "))

Here I am telling Python that amount should be an integer, and I am converting the user's input into one using int().

Conditionals (if, elif, else)

Conditionals let your program make decisions. It checks a condition and runs different code depending on whether it is TRUE or FALSE.

The basic structure looks like this:

if condition:

    # do this

elif another_condition:

    # do this instead

else:

    # do this if nothing above is true

My Mini Project: Shopping Discount Calculator 🛒

To practice everything I learned today, I built a simple shopping discount calculator. It takes the amount a customer spends and automatically calculates their discount and final price.

amount: int = int(input("Enter your shopping amount: "))



if amount < 50:

    discount = 0

    print("No discount")

elif amount >= 50 and amount <= 99:

    discount = 0.10

    print("You have 10% discount")

elif amount >= 100 and amount <= 199:

    discount = 0.20

    print("You have 20% discount")

else:

    discount = 0.30

    print("You have 30% discount")



final = amount * (1 - discount)



if final > 150:

    print("You are a big spender")

else:

    print("Great deal")



print(f"Your final price is: ${final}")

How it works:

• The user enters how much they are spending


• The program checks which discount range they fall into


• It calculates the final price after the discount


• It also checks if the final amount makes them a "big spender."

For example, if you enter $120:

• You get a 20% discount


• Your final price becomes $96.00


• And you get a "Great deal" message!

What I Learned From This Project

Building this small project taught me more than just reading about variables and conditionals. I learned how to:

• Take user input with input()
  


• Convert data types using int()
  


• Use multiple conditions with elif
  


• Combine conditions using and.
  


• Calculate values using arithmetic operators


• Display results using f-strings like f"Your final price is: ${final}".
  

Key Takeaways from Day 2

• Variables store information that your program can use


• Data types tell Python what kind of information is being stored


• Conditionals allow your program to make decisions


• The best way to learn is to build something — even something small!

What's Coming on Day 3?

Next, I plan to cover:

• Lists — storing multiple values in one variable


• Loops — repeating actions automatically


• Another small project to practice!

Thanks for following along! If you are also a beginner, drop a comment below — let's learn together! 🚀

Written by Hillary Nartey | AI Data Specialist in Training