but how often have you bought something past the best by date ?
but how often have you bought something past the best by date ?I do not look, and it is very unlikely it would be past the BSD (best sell date) where I buy food, but I would buy things like canned goods (watch the tomato products though), pasta, dried fruit, no or low fat sugar products, etc. if such was cheaper - depending on how far past the BSD they were.
However, I was referring to surplus food which we are blessed to be able to distribute free, and we use some ourselves, most usually left over after the main distribution or at least before I throw it out. We keep our refer very cold, and among other items, I have often eaten boxed salads with chicken in them a few day past their BSD. Heated for 2 minutes in the micro, with tomato sauce (which I usually put on just about every main staple!).
Then there is other salvage. I just rescued some old bananas from the trash, cutting off the bad parts and freezing the rest to be used later. Last week I saved about a dozen apples not one wanted due to bruises. Scrub/wash, cut out bruises, core, and place on top of a layer of oatmeal and cinnamon and sugar, drizzle with lemon juice and a little honey, sprinkle more of the oatmeal mixture on top, and back until soft. Somewhat later maybe play basketball (mainly defense) if opportunity comes. We have cans of beans that are over a decade old, I guess they could be used in a dire need, though the fat content is an issue.
So it is more than about saving money, but not letting things go to waste as stewards of what God gives us, while being informed and reasonable about actual heath risks. I am sure FReepers over on the weekly garden thread have their own stories. As well as the Preppers whose threads Pollard's home page can direct you to, which at one timer saw over 10,000 posts!
Thank God for His mani-fold grace.