So says the Bible.
Or The Byrds.
Depending on the birth year listed on your driver's license.
Regardless of the origin of your awareness, the saying itself has an undeniable universality.
And, as the family celebration of Butterfingers and Krackles makes room for the family celebration of buttered rolls and cranberries, that thought resonates even more poignantly.
To wit...
There are times when it's time to put aside the satirical scalpel used to slice the meat heads who govern us and pick up the carving knife used to slice the white meat/dark meat of our respective holiday birds.
In that spirit, here's how Thanksgiving is looking for you this year with some timely tips on how to make your season bright (we'll get to that may all your Christmases be white thing down the road).
Can you afford to give thanks this year? The American Farm Bureau Federation is predicting the average 10 person turkey dinner will cost 13 percent more than it did last year. Expect to shell out at least $50 bucks for the average 10 person turkey dinner. That's the highest price for the holiday meal on record.
Blame the centerpiece. The price of a turkey spiked this year. The side dishes aren't helping either. Just about the only thing that hasn't gotten more expensive is relish, according to the AFBF. Before you crack out the hot dogs for the holidays, there's still something to be thankful for: the year's best deals on groceries are actually happening now. Extreme couponers will tell you pre-Thanksgiving is the prime time to stock up on food for the year. "Don't settle for anything less than half off, and expect even better," advises Teri Gault, C.E.O. of The Grocery Game, a money-saving supermarket sweep site. "Sales change every week. So by gathering over the course of weeks, you'll save more money, and you'll be ahead of the game, and have less shopping and hauling to do at the last minute."
With that in mind, before you plan your recipes for the holiday, scan major coupon websites like coupons.com and smartsource.com to print out the best clippings and plan your menu around what's cheapest. Here's a head start...
For the turkey:
Last year, a 16-pound turkey cost about $17.50. This year it's around four bucks more. To battle bird costs, turn to rebates, says coupon guru Chrystie Corns. "This year Butterball is offering a $5 rebate when you Buy 1 Butterball Frozen or Fresh Whole Turkey," she says. That means you can turn back the clock on your turkey cost.
Another trade secret? Stack the deals. Your local supermarket may be offering discounts on turkey, but so are manufacturers. First scour local supermarket clippings for "store coupons", and then check out websites for Hormel, Butterball and other major turkey brands (here's a list) to find discounts you can double up on at the register.
For the sides:
Stuffing, sweet potatoes, fresh cranberries and peas have all gotten pricier this year, according to the AFBF. So this year, let deals dictate your side-dish menu. Check for freebies at websites like Red Plum, where a list of giveaways at national chains are posted weekly. Another tech-smart trick: download the Red Laser app to your phone and use it to scan sides you really want to make. The app will pull up the price of your dish and then roll out a list of similar products by other brands that are less expensive.
Remember you've still got time before the holidays, so you don't have to buy all your groceries in one trip. "Be open to purchasing items at different stores," suggests Corns. "For example, this week Target has the best deal on Stove Top Stuffing priced at $.89 cents."
For dessert:
Since milk's gone up 42 cents this year, check out recipes that use powdered milk which can be cheaper and lasts longer. Butter and brown sugar are also heavily discounted for the holiday season, says Gault, so factor that into your dessert decisions. The AFBF says pie shells and whipped cream have added a few cents to their price point overall, but Gault says the biggest discounts for those two baking items are available now, so you may not actually feel the pinch.
If you've got the time, consider doing your baking from scratch. Making pie crusts and dinner rolls with a little flour and yeast may require extra work, but it'll knock down your grocery bill significantly. Because biscuits and pie shells freeze well, you can actually make these ahead of time so they're good to go the big day.
America is a country that prides itself on tradition.
Traditionally, in January, we read news stories about the best ways to lose weight and/or quit smoking.
Traditionally, in February, we read news stories about how to best share our romantic feelings with others.
Traditionally, in both May and August, we read news stories about how not to get dead by doing stupid things while boating and/or swimming.
Traditionally, in July, of course, we read news stories about how not to get blown apart, or even get dead, by doing stupid things with things that explode after we light their fuses.
And, traditionally, in November, we read news stories about how much more the butterball is going to set us back than it did last year, inevitably accompanied by pointers on how to pinch a penny or two while we pinch a little salt into the mashed potatoes.
I've never been convinced that the yearly re-telling of how much more Thanksgiving is going to cost constitutes news.
It really falls more into the category of "no shit, Sherlock."
Because, fact is, after six plus decades of yearly thank you, Lord and pass the gravies, I've never known a Thanksgiving that cost less than the one that came before.
And that's okay.
It's no biggie.
Because we (the much revered and sought after "American people") have never let a little thing like price increases get in the way of doing what we damn well want to do whenever we damn well want to do it.
Otherwise, those of us who remember gasoline that cost thirty cents a gallon would have traded in for good when gasoline hit, say, two bucks.
Never mind three plus.
So, damn the torpedos and bring on the bird, let the Thanksgiving banquet begin.
The thing is, actually, we don't let the price of poultry sideline our supper.
Because the thing is, actually, we deal every day with what overfed, overstuffed turkeys cost us.
It's only on Thanksgiving Day that we call them Toms.
The rest of the year we call them Congress.
Hmmm.
Turns out the carving knife didn't take the place of the scalpel, after all.
No problem.
That's why God gave us the blessings of family, friends...
...and two hands.
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