What is an anytimer?

An anytimer is a free pass between friends. You earn one after a lost bet, a forfeit or a challenge. And you can use it whenever you want.

01The definition

An anytimer is a personal credit you get from a friend or give to someone. The idea is simple. When someone loses a bet, fails a challenge or does something stupid, you earn an anytimer on them.

You can use that credit at any moment. Most of the time that just means you get to make your friend down a beer whenever you want. But it can be anything else too: downing a seltzer, eating a mango in the middle of the night or another task you come up with yourselves.

02Anytimer variations

Anytimers are a fun way to keep track of bets without any money involved. Want a friend to eat a mango in the middle of the night? Then just make it an Any Mango. You can come up with your own anytimer for almost anything. Make it as crazy as you like.

Here are a few of our favourite examples:

Any
Any GIG
Any Mango
Any Corner
Any Cucumber
Any Dishwasher
Any Warm Despo

03Where does the word come from?

The word anytimer comes from English. "Any time" means at any moment. Add "-er" to it and you have the name for a credit you can use at any moment.

The idea itself was born in Dutch student culture. Student associations, their smaller groups (called a dispuut) and student houses often use anytimers as a penalty or a reward. Many groups of friends and housemates even have their own rules that come with anytimers.

04How do you earn an anytimer?

There are plenty of ways to earn an anytimer. A few well known examples:

Your friend loses a bet.
Someone does a dare.
Someone fails a challenge.
Someone is late, forgets something or says something really dumb.
You agree among yourselves when someone gets an anytimer.

A real life example. Your friend claims he can finish his drink in ten seconds. He can't. From that moment on, you have an anytimer on him. Another example: someone forgets their wallet for the third time in a row. That can be reason enough for an any too, if the group agrees.

Making your own rules is part of it. That is exactly what makes it fun.

05How do you use an anytimer?

Got an anytimer on a friend? Then you decide when to use it. Maybe on a Friday night for a round. Maybe for something crazy. Or just when you want someone to do something for you.

With the Anytimer app you use an anytimer with one tap. Your friend gets a notification right away. The any only comes off your balance once the other person accepts. That way it stays clear for everyone.

06Anytimer etiquette: what is okay and what is not?

Can you refuse an anytimer? Yes, you can. But in most groups of friends there is a price to pay. The most common rule: refuse it and the any you just got doubles. That keeps saying no unattractive.

There are also moments when you better not use an anytimer. Think of:

Before driving
During an exam
At a funeral
When someone is sick

Your group of friends agrees on this together. The starting point is common sense. Nobody should ever be put in danger by an any.

One more unwritten rule: don't stack too many anys on the same person at once. Want to know all the rules about refusing? Read our full guide on refusing an anytimer.

07Why track them with an app?

Without an app you lose track fast. Who still has one open? How many are there? And who still owes you? That only leads to arguments.

AnyTimerApp keeps track of everything automatically. Every anytimer is saved, with a photo, video or message as proof. That way everyone knows exactly where they stand and you avoid the moaning afterwards.

08Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer an anytimer to someone else?

No. An anytimer only works between the two people who agreed on it. You can't pass it on or sell it to someone else.

How many anytimers can I have at the same time?

There is no hard limit. In practice it works best if you don't stack too many anys on one person at once, because that leads to fights.

Is an anytimer the same as an adtje?

No. An adtje is the action: downing a drink in one go. An anytimer is the credit you earn and can use at any moment. Often it ends in an adtje.

Is there a difference between an anytimer and an "any"?

No. "Any" is just the short, spoken version of anytimer. Students use both words all the time.

Can an anytimer expire?

Officially not. You could agree on it though. Just make sure you use the any before the friendship ends. Agree on rules like this together beforehand.

Can I track anytimers in WhatsApp or a notes app?

You can, but in practice it quickly leads to arguments because you have no version control. Read why in our article about tracking anytimers.

09Ready to start?

Download the free AnyTimerApp and start tracking anytimers in your group of friends today. Available for iOS and Android.

Anytimer AppFree to download

Download the app