diff --git a/tools/aoc.py b/tools/aoc.py
index 08f8449..c54aeac 100644
--- a/tools/aoc.py
+++ b/tools/aoc.py
@@ -168,17 +168,17 @@ class AOCDay:
 
         answer_cache.save()
 
-    def getInput(self) -> Union[str, List]:
+    def getInput(self, return_type: Type = None) -> Any:
         if len(self.input) == 1:
-            return self.input[0]
+            if return_type:
+                return return_type(self.input[0])
+            else:
+                return self.input[0]
         else:
-            return self.input.copy()
-
-    def getInputListAsType(self, return_type: Type) -> List:
-        """
-        get input as list casted to return_type, each line representing one list entry
-        """
-        return [return_type(i) for i in self.input]
+            if return_type:
+                return [return_type(i) for i in self.input]
+            else:
+                return self.input.copy()
 
     def getMultiLineInputAsArray(self, return_type: Type = None, join_char: str = None) -> List:
         """