Sorry, is turning itself on and off not classed as automation?
Yes it is, what matters is how much automation? I had a problem with PIR control, it would stop seeing me before I left the illuminated area, so would be plunged into darkness. So much depends on where you live and what you want, I have a dark drive the street light is masked by trees, so at a time when visitors are expected I want it lit at front of house, rear of house only when I arrive home, so switching on with phone app is ample.
At Halloween I love the kids knocking the door with their trick or treat, so set the front light to green to show I will be receptive to their visit. Christmas set to colour changing.
I do think dark sky is good, so by 11 pm want outside lights off. But an immersion heater timer will simply turn lights on off at set times, at low cost, this
at £9 from
screwfix is called a manual immersion heater timer, so clearly not considered as automation. My bedroom lights turn on at 8 am on Wednesday and off at 8:30 am to wake me up to go an volunteer at local railway, but same switch will turn on lights with voice commands, using PC or Phone, down to what you want.
However the timer shown will not really work, as you have no neutral, this switch will
it needs a hub
so total cost £17.70 x 2 = £35.40 from CPC who ever they are, so far more expensive, I assume you have a router running for other things?
But the cost to run a neutral is likely more than the extra you need to pay for the smart switch and hub, so it does seem a reasonable method to do what you want. Add a button, £14.10 and Hub also works as door bell. And logs each time rung on your phone. It is not classed as water proof, but mine has been there for over a year and no problems. The same button can also turn on your lights, so both rings the chime and turns lights on.
As to where one stops with automation is up to you. It must seem odd to anyone watching me ringing my own door bell so I can see lock to put my key into!