Changing int numbers with external means

did it

const int  button1 = 2;
const int button2 = 3;

int light1ontime = 0;
int buttonstate1 = 0;
int buttonstate2 = 0;
int lastButton1 = 0;
int lastButton2 = 0;
void setup() {

  pinMode(button1, INPUT);
  pinMode(button2, INPUT);
  Serial.begin(9600);
}


void loop() {


  // add

  buttonstate1 = digitalRead(button1);
  if (buttonstate1 != lastButton1) {
    if (buttonstate1 == HIGH) {
      light1ontime++;
    }
  }

  lastButton1 = buttonstate1;
  if (light1ontime >= 25)
  {
    light1ontime = 0;
  }


  //subtract

  buttonstate2 = digitalRead(button2);
  if (buttonstate2 != lastButton2) {
    if (buttonstate2 == HIGH) {
      light1ontime--;
    }
  }

  lastButton2 = buttonstate2;
  if (light1ontime <= -1)
  {
    light1ontime = 24;
  }


  Serial.println(light1ontime);
}