Old home-made bread is valuable in itself, as Hubert mentions.
Garlic-bread is my "hmmm, it's pretty hard, but since the mould doesn't smell like
mushrooms yet" go-to.
Italians know what's what when it comes to using bread. Throwing it out is basically sacrilege. One of my favourite salads is panzanella. All the ingredients will be in season soon here...
Spaghetti, garlic, olive oil and herbs, sprinkled with fried breadcrumbs is classic cucina povera or 'poor people's food'. All the variatons on this theme I've tried are delicious.