I shop at a discount food store that sells expired or damaged foods (I know, too much of an "ick" factor for a lot of folks). Luckily, cheese is one thing that they have in abundance - and that I know it's safe to consume or freeze within a few weeks of the expiration date, so I don't have to cut back on one of my favorites
I have about 5 or 6 bags of low-fat shredded cheddar (which, for some reason, is hard to find at times) in my freezer right now, along with some mozzarella and Parmesan that I get for $.99/8 oz bag - about half the price of the cheapest stuff I can find elsewhere. I also bought an entire package of Sargento cheese sticks for the kids for a buck - 24 sticks. Some varieties of cheese lasts a lot longer than the date indicates, and can be frozen well too, so it pays to stock up when you find a good price.