Haven't done this in years (mostly because I just eat very little bread now), but I read somewhere that the best way to keep bread from getting stale is to store it in the freezer, rather than on the counter, and it worked well for me. Either eat it immediately, or into the freezer it goes. Then it will stay fresh and taste great, even if you don't toast it. I used to make my PBJ sandwiches for school or work on frozen slices of bread, which thawed by lunchtime and helped keep my lunch bag cool in the process. I also freeze muffins as soon as they're cool after removing them from the oven. 30 seconds in the microwave and they're almost as good as new, and much better than the dry mess I get if I leave them on the counter for a few days, or the mush that occurs if I put them in the fridge.