Cooking frustration

We finally have our stove working again. I was excited to be able to use it and decided to make meatloaf with sweet potatoes and asparagus. I bought the meat yesterday at the grocery store and went to eh potraviny near Sofia's school today to get sweet potatoes and asparagus. All was ready to start making the meatloaf. I took the meat out of the refrigerator and opened it and my hopes were dashed...the meat was BAD!! How can this be?? I just bought the meat yesterday! Well, apparently you can have the package date and use by date the same. I have been burnt on expired products before but it has been kept to the dairy aisle. I am always aware of the use by dates on dairy products because of that. Now I have learned I have to be the same way with meat from the grocery store. Another reason to just go to our local butcher. Oh well, I guess we will just have to wait until tomorrow for meatloaf.