diff --git a/backend/api/chore_schedule_api.py b/backend/api/chore_schedule_api.py
index 3dd65d7..9d58352 100644
--- a/backend/api/chore_schedule_api.py
+++ b/backend/api/chore_schedule_api.py
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ def set_chore_schedule(child_id, task_id):
             return jsonify({'error': 'day_configs must be a list', 'code': ErrorCodes.INVALID_VALUE}), 400
         default_hour = data.get('default_hour', 8)
         default_minute = data.get('default_minute', 0)
+        default_has_deadline = data.get('default_has_deadline', True)
         schedule = ChoreSchedule(
             child_id=child_id,
             task_id=task_id,
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ def set_chore_schedule(child_id, task_id):
             day_configs=day_configs,
             default_hour=default_hour,
             default_minute=default_minute,
+            default_has_deadline=default_has_deadline,
         )
     else:
         interval_days = data.get('interval_days', 2)
diff --git a/backend/models/chore_schedule.py b/backend/models/chore_schedule.py
index 5a748ee..f0bd97c 100644
--- a/backend/models/chore_schedule.py
+++ b/backend/models/chore_schedule.py
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ class ChoreSchedule(BaseModel):
     day_configs: list = field(default_factory=list)   # list of DayConfig dicts
     default_hour: int = 8    # master deadline hour for 'days' mode
     default_minute: int = 0  # master deadline minute for 'days' mode
+    default_has_deadline: bool = True  # False = 'Anytime', no expiry for 'days' mode
 
     # mode='interval' fields
     interval_days: int = 2              # 1–7
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ class ChoreSchedule(BaseModel):
             day_configs=d.get('day_configs', []),
             default_hour=d.get('default_hour', 8),
             default_minute=d.get('default_minute', 0),
+            default_has_deadline=d.get('default_has_deadline', True),
             interval_days=d.get('interval_days', 2),
             anchor_date=d.get('anchor_date', ''),
             interval_has_deadline=d.get('interval_has_deadline', True),
@@ -71,6 +73,7 @@ class ChoreSchedule(BaseModel):
             'day_configs': self.day_configs,
             'default_hour': self.default_hour,
             'default_minute': self.default_minute,
+            'default_has_deadline': self.default_has_deadline,
             'interval_days': self.interval_days,
             'anchor_date': self.anchor_date,
             'interval_has_deadline': self.interval_has_deadline,
diff --git a/frontend/vue-app/src/__tests__/ScheduleModal.spec.ts b/frontend/vue-app/src/__tests__/ScheduleModal.spec.ts
index ecf401e..92b9361 100644
--- a/frontend/vue-app/src/__tests__/ScheduleModal.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/vue-app/src/__tests__/ScheduleModal.spec.ts
@@ -450,18 +450,18 @@ describe('ScheduleModal save — interval mode', () => {
 // Interval form — next occurrence label
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 describe('ScheduleModal interval form — next occurrence', () => {
-  it('shows next occurrences label in interval mode', async () => {
+  it('shows next occurrence label in interval mode', async () => {
     const w = mountModal()
     await w.findAll('.mode-btn')[1].trigger('click')
     await nextTick()
     expect(w.find('.next-occurrence-label').exists()).toBe(true)
   })
 
-  it('next occurrences label contains "Next occurrences:"', async () => {
+  it('next occurrence label contains "Next occurrence:"', async () => {
     const w = mountModal()
     await w.findAll('.mode-btn')[1].trigger('click')
     await nextTick()
-    expect(w.find('.next-occurrence-label').text()).toContain('Next occurrences:')
+    expect(w.find('.next-occurrence-label').text()).toContain('Next occurrence:')
   })
 })
 
diff --git a/frontend/vue-app/src/common/models.ts b/frontend/vue-app/src/common/models.ts
index 649dddf..55342b1 100644
--- a/frontend/vue-app/src/common/models.ts
+++ b/frontend/vue-app/src/common/models.ts
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export interface ChoreSchedule {
   day_configs: DayConfig[]
   default_hour?: number // master deadline hour; present when mode='days'
   default_minute?: number // master deadline minute; present when mode='days'
+  default_has_deadline?: boolean // false = 'Anytime', no expiry for 'days' mode
   // mode='interval'
   interval_days: number // 1–7
   anchor_date: string // ISO date string e.g. "2026-02-25"; "" means use today
diff --git a/frontend/vue-app/src/common/scheduleUtils.ts b/frontend/vue-app/src/common/scheduleUtils.ts
index dde6ef4..a2c3364 100644
--- a/frontend/vue-app/src/common/scheduleUtils.ts
+++ b/frontend/vue-app/src/common/scheduleUtils.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ export function getDueTimeToday(
   localDate: Date,
 ): { hour: number; minute: number } | null {
   if (schedule.mode === 'days') {
+    // default_has_deadline === false means 'Anytime' — no expiry for scheduled days
+    if (schedule.default_has_deadline === false) return null
     const todayWeekday = getLocalWeekday(localDate)
     const dayConfig = schedule.day_configs.find((dc: DayConfig) => dc.day === todayWeekday)
     if (!dayConfig) return null
diff --git a/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/DateInputField.vue b/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/DateInputField.vue
index d43445f..ce457af 100644
--- a/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/DateInputField.vue
+++ b/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/DateInputField.vue
@@ -1,8 +1,22 @@
 <template>
-  <input class="date-input-field" type="date" :value="modelValue" :min="min" @change="onChanged" />
+  <div class="date-input-wrapper">
+    <button type="button" class="date-display-btn" @click="openPicker">
+      {{ displayLabel }}
+    </button>
+    <input
+      ref="pickerRef"
+      class="date-input-hidden"
+      type="date"
+      :value="modelValue"
+      :min="min"
+      @change="onChanged"
+    />
+  </div>
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
+import { ref, computed } from 'vue'
+
 const props = defineProps<{
   modelValue: string
   min?: string
@@ -12,13 +26,43 @@ const emit = defineEmits<{
   (e: 'update:modelValue', value: string): void
 }>()
 
+const pickerRef = ref<HTMLInputElement | null>(null)
+
+const displayLabel = computed(() => {
+  if (!props.modelValue) return 'Select date'
+  const [y, m, d] = props.modelValue.split('-').map(Number)
+  const date = new Date(y, m - 1, d)
+  if (isNaN(date.getTime())) return props.modelValue
+  return date.toLocaleDateString('en-US', {
+    weekday: 'short',
+    month: 'short',
+    day: 'numeric',
+    year: 'numeric',
+  })
+})
+
+function openPicker() {
+  if (pickerRef.value) {
+    if (typeof pickerRef.value.showPicker === 'function') {
+      pickerRef.value.showPicker()
+    } else {
+      pickerRef.value.click()
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 function onChanged(event: Event) {
   emit('update:modelValue', (event.target as HTMLInputElement).value)
 }
 </script>
 
 <style scoped>
-.date-input-field {
+.date-input-wrapper {
+  position: relative;
+  display: inline-flex;
+}
+
+.date-display-btn {
   padding: 0.4rem 0.6rem;
   border: 1.5px solid var(--kebab-menu-border, #bcc1c9);
   border-radius: 6px;
@@ -30,10 +74,21 @@ function onChanged(event: Event) {
   cursor: pointer;
   outline: none;
   transition: border-color 0.15s;
+  white-space: nowrap;
 }
 
-.date-input-field:hover,
-.date-input-field:focus {
+.date-display-btn:hover,
+.date-display-btn:focus {
   border-color: var(--btn-primary, #667eea);
 }
+
+.date-input-hidden {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  width: 100%;
+  height: 100%;
+  opacity: 0;
+  pointer-events: none;
+  cursor: pointer;
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/ScheduleModal.vue b/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/ScheduleModal.vue
index 64289f9..1fc9614 100644
--- a/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/ScheduleModal.vue
+++ b/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/ScheduleModal.vue
@@ -28,28 +28,38 @@
       <!-- Default deadline -->
       <div v-if="selectedDays.size > 0" class="default-deadline-row">
         <span class="field-label">Deadline</span>
-        <TimePickerPopover :modelValue="defaultTime" @update:modelValue="onDefaultTimeChanged" />
+        <TimePickerPopover
+          v-if="hasDefaultDeadline"
+          :modelValue="defaultTime"
+          @update:modelValue="onDefaultTimeChanged"
+        />
+        <span v-else class="anytime-label">Anytime</span>
+        <button type="button" class="link-btn" @click="hasDefaultDeadline = !hasDefaultDeadline">
+          {{ hasDefaultDeadline ? 'Clear (Anytime)' : 'Set deadline' }}
+        </button>
       </div>
 
       <!-- Selected day exception list -->
       <div v-if="selectedDays.size > 0" class="exception-list">
         <div v-for="idx in sortedSelectedDays" :key="idx" class="exception-row">
           <span class="exception-day-name">{{ DAY_LABELS[idx] }}</span>
-          <template v-if="exceptions.has(idx)">
-            <TimePickerPopover
-              :modelValue="exceptions.get(idx)!"
-              @update:modelValue="(val) => exceptions.set(idx, val)"
-            />
-            <button type="button" class="link-btn reset-btn" @click="exceptions.delete(idx)">
-              Reset to default
-            </button>
-          </template>
-          <template v-else>
-            <span class="default-label">{{ formatDefaultTime }}</span>
-            <button type="button" class="link-btn" @click="exceptions.set(idx, { ...defaultTime })">
-              Set different time
-            </button>
-          </template>
+          <div class="exception-right">
+            <template v-if="exceptions.has(idx)">
+              <TimePickerPopover
+                :modelValue="exceptions.get(idx)!"
+                @update:modelValue="(val) => exceptions.set(idx, val)"
+              />
+              <button type="button" class="link-btn reset-btn" @click="exceptions.delete(idx)">
+                Reset to default
+              </button>
+            </template>
+            <template v-else>
+              <span class="default-label">{{ hasDefaultDeadline ? formatDefaultTime : 'Anytime' }}</span>
+              <button type="button" class="link-btn" @click="exceptions.set(idx, { ...defaultTime })">
+                Set different time
+              </button>
+            </template>
+          </div>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
@@ -91,6 +101,11 @@
         </div>
       </div>
 
+      <!-- Next occurrence preview -->
+      <div v-if="nextOccurrence" class="next-occurrence-row">
+        <span class="next-occurrence-label">Next occurrence: {{ nextOccurrence }}</span>
+      </div>
+
       <!-- Deadline row -->
       <div class="interval-time-row">
         <label class="field-label">Deadline</label>
@@ -104,12 +119,6 @@
           {{ hasDeadline ? 'Clear (Anytime)' : 'Set deadline' }}
         </button>
       </div>
-
-      <!-- Next occurrences preview -->
-      <div v-if="nextOccurrences.length" class="next-occurrence-row">
-        <span class="next-occurrence-label">Next occurrences:</span>
-        <span v-for="(d, i) in nextOccurrences" :key="i" class="next-occurrence-date">{{ d }}</span>
-      </div>
     </div>
 
     <p v-if="errorMsg" class="error-msg">{{ errorMsg }}</p>
@@ -185,6 +194,7 @@ const { days: _days, base: _base, exMap: _exMap } = initDaysState(props.schedule
 const selectedDays = ref<Set<number>>(_days)
 const defaultTime = ref<TimeValue>(_base)
 const exceptions = ref<Map<number, TimeValue>>(_exMap)
+const hasDefaultDeadline = ref<boolean>(props.schedule?.default_has_deadline ?? true)
 
 // ── helpers (date) ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
@@ -210,6 +220,7 @@ const errorMsg = ref<string | null>(null)
 const origMode = props.schedule?.mode ?? 'days'
 const origDays = new Set(_days)
 const origDefaultTime: TimeValue = { ..._base }
+const origHasDefaultDeadline = props.schedule?.default_has_deadline ?? true
 const origExceptions = new Map<number, TimeValue>(
   Array.from(_exMap.entries()).map(([k, v]) => [k, { ...v }]),
 )
@@ -227,32 +238,26 @@ const sortedSelectedDays = computed(() => Array.from(selectedDays.value).sort((a
 
 const todayISO = getTodayISO()
 
-const nextOccurrences = computed((): string[] => {
-  if (!anchorDate.value) return []
+const nextOccurrence = computed((): string | null => {
+  if (!anchorDate.value) return null
   const [y, m, d] = anchorDate.value.split('-').map(Number)
   const anchor = new Date(y, m - 1, d, 0, 0, 0, 0)
-  if (isNaN(anchor.getTime())) return []
+  if (isNaN(anchor.getTime())) return null
   const today = new Date()
   today.setHours(0, 0, 0, 0)
 
   const fmt = (dt: Date) =>
-    dt.toLocaleDateString('en-US', { weekday: 'long', month: 'short', day: 'numeric' })
+    dt.toLocaleDateString('en-US', { weekday: 'short', month: 'short', day: 'numeric', year: 'numeric' })
 
-  // Find the first hit date >= today
-  let first: Date | null = null
-  const candidate = new Date(anchor)
-  for (let i = 0; i <= 365; i++) {
+  // Find the first hit date strictly after today
+  for (let i = 1; i <= 365; i++) {
     const cur = new Date(anchor.getTime() + i * 86_400_000)
     const diffDays = Math.round((cur.getTime() - anchor.getTime()) / 86_400_000)
     if (diffDays % intervalDays.value === 0 && cur >= today) {
-      first = cur
-      break
+      return fmt(cur)
     }
   }
-  if (!first) return []
-  void candidate // suppress unused warning
-  const second = new Date(first.getTime() + intervalDays.value * 86_400_000)
-  return [fmt(first), fmt(second)]
+  return null
 })
 
 const formatDefaultTime = computed(() => {
@@ -318,6 +323,8 @@ const isDirty = computed(() => {
       defaultTime.value.minute !== origDefaultTime.minute
     )
       return true
+    // Default deadline toggled
+    if (hasDefaultDeadline.value !== origHasDefaultDeadline) return true
     // Exceptions changed
     if (exceptions.value.size !== origExceptions.size) return true
     for (const [day, t] of exceptions.value) {
@@ -364,6 +371,7 @@ async function save() {
       day_configs,
       default_hour: defaultTime.value.hour,
       default_minute: defaultTime.value.minute,
+      default_has_deadline: hasDefaultDeadline.value,
     })
   } else {
     res = await setChoreSchedule(props.childId, props.task.id, {
@@ -468,8 +476,14 @@ async function save() {
 .exception-row {
   display: flex;
   align-items: center;
-  gap: 0.65rem;
-  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  gap: 0.4rem;
+}
+
+.exception-right {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.5rem;
+  margin-left: auto;
 }
 
 .exception-day-name {
@@ -486,9 +500,13 @@ async function save() {
 }
 
 .link-btn {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
   background: none;
   border: none;
-  padding: 0;
+  padding: 0.6rem 0.5rem;
+  margin: -0.6rem -0.5rem;
+  min-height: 44px;
   cursor: pointer;
   font-size: 0.82rem;
   font-weight: 600;
@@ -496,6 +514,7 @@ async function save() {
   text-decoration: underline;
   font-family: inherit;
   transition: opacity 0.12s;
+  white-space: nowrap;
 }
 
 .link-btn:hover {
@@ -550,8 +569,8 @@ async function save() {
 }
 
 .stepper-btn {
-  width: 2rem;
-  height: 2rem;
+  min-width: 2.75rem;
+  min-height: 2.75rem;
   background: transparent;
   border: none;
   color: var(--primary, #667eea);
@@ -560,6 +579,9 @@ async function save() {
   cursor: pointer;
   transition: background 0.12s;
   font-family: inherit;
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: center;
 }
 
 .stepper-btn:hover:not(:disabled) {
@@ -588,21 +610,13 @@ async function save() {
 
 .next-occurrence-row {
   display: flex;
-  flex-direction: column;
-  gap: 0.15rem;
+  align-items: center;
 }
 
 .next-occurrence-label {
-  font-size: 0.8rem;
-  color: var(--form-label, #888);
-  font-weight: 500;
-}
-
-.next-occurrence-date {
   font-size: 0.85rem;
   color: var(--form-label, #888);
   font-style: italic;
-  padding-left: 0.5rem;
 }
 
 /* Error */
diff --git a/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/__tests__/DateInputField.spec.ts b/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/__tests__/DateInputField.spec.ts
index 81da3fa..57dfe9c 100644
--- a/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/__tests__/DateInputField.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/vue-app/src/components/shared/__tests__/DateInputField.spec.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ describe('DateInputField', () => {
     expect(input.exists()).toBe(true)
   })
 
-  it('reflects modelValue as the input value', () => {
+  it('reflects modelValue as the hidden input value', () => {
     const w = mount(DateInputField, { props: { modelValue: '2026-04-15' } })
     const input = w.find<HTMLInputElement>('input[type="date"]')
     expect((input.element as HTMLInputElement).value).toBe('2026-04-15')
@@ -39,7 +39,21 @@ describe('DateInputField', () => {
   it('renders without min prop when not provided', () => {
     const w = mount(DateInputField, { props: { modelValue: '2026-03-01' } })
     const input = w.find<HTMLInputElement>('input[type="date"]')
-    // min attribute should be absent or empty
     expect((input.element as HTMLInputElement).min).toBe('')
   })
+
+  it('shows "Select date" placeholder when modelValue is empty', () => {
+    const w = mount(DateInputField, { props: { modelValue: '' } })
+    expect(w.find('.date-display-btn').text()).toBe('Select date')
+  })
+
+  it('shows formatted date with weekday when modelValue is set', () => {
+    const w = mount(DateInputField, { props: { modelValue: '2026-03-05' } })
+    // Thu, Mar 5, 2026
+    const text = w.find('.date-display-btn').text()
+    expect(text).toContain('Thu')
+    expect(text).toContain('Mar')
+    expect(text).toContain('5')
+    expect(text).toContain('2026')
+  })
 })