Reach to the back — the freshest products are hiding there

Supermarket shelf-stackers always load new stock behind old, nudging you to grab what's in front - the stuff closest to its sell-by date. Make a habit of reaching to the back of the shelf for dairy, bread, meat, and any perishable with a short shelf life. You'll routinely get products days or even weeks fresher. And while you're checking dates, know this: "best before" is about quality, not safety. Food past that date is often perfectly fine. "Use by" is the one to respect - that's the safety date.