Red meat I see as a 'cook by' or 'freeze by' date. I'm a bit funny with pork and chicken and won't eat them past use by date.
We won't drink milk on the day it's supposed to be used by either.

As for anything else, I use my own judgement on the item.

We don't have left overs. I cook enough for all of us and anything left on our plates is fed to the dogs.

*ETA* for anything that has been frozen and then thawed I use/cook/eat within 24 hours.