Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner and the stores are already stocked and ready for the Christmas craze. But with so many families struggling in the current economy, I suspect this is going to be a tough holiday season for everyone, even the corporate giants.

I can already sense that the larger chains are concerned about Black Friday sales. There are literally three stacks of flyers and coupons piled on my coffee table. I can't recall the last time I was inundated with so many circulars. It seems the doorbuster sales, typically reserved for Black Friday are now available on Thanksgiving Day or in some cases the Wednesday before.

How desperate does a store need to be to be opened on Thanksgiving? That used to be unheard of. Thanksgiving should be a time to spend with family and loved ones, not in line at 5 a.m. waiting for a good deal.

I also worry about the food pantries. I think that churches, soup kitchens and pantries are going to have a tough time stretching their resources to help families that not too long ago were comfortably middle class.

It's tough. I used to gauge the economy in the price of a gallon of gas. Now I catch myself noting the price of a box of cereal. Even stores famous for their low prices are getting closer to the standard price. And why go to a discount or wholesale club if it isn't lighter on the pockets?

I always used to chuckle at the woman at the checkout with her pocketful of coupons. But nowadays, everyone is a bargain shopper. Brand loyalty is a thing of the past. And as far as Cabbage Patch, Furby or Tickle-Me-Elmo, I would be very surprised to see any item emerge as a have-to-have commodity. Who needs a top of the line gaming system when the electric bill is barely manageable?

If anyone is going to make out this holiday season, I think eBay is sure to have a good year. I predict people will be eager to sell items that they don't need, and I imagine consumers will be far less proud about giving gently used gifts.

But enough of my gloom and doom about the economy. As Irving Berlin wrote, got no check books, got no banks, still I'd like to express my thanks - I got the sun in the morning and the moon at night.

Remember, even in the toughest economy, there is always something to be thankful for.

Estabrook's column appears

Mondays and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com