The Christmas shopping season has started.

Now, the Sunday School teacher in me is rolling her eyes. This is still harvest time and Thanksgiving is the next holiday on the calendar. My home won’t be decorated for Christmas until Thanksgiving weekend.

But frugalista in me is watching those sales fliers. There’s nothing wrong with buying stuff whenever you can find a good price for merchandise for your own family, for a gift, to celebrate a holiday, or for a special occasion. It’s smart stewardship of your money to be a smart shopper.

So I will expand my sales flier reports during the next few weeks to include the department stores and Christmas merchandise.

First, starting with the grocery, discount and drugstore fliers that are in my newspaper stack this morning (I live in the 48162 zip code and most of these fliers are in the Monroe Evening News):

• Super Kmart in Southgate and Taylor (Detroit Free Press) has buy a ham, get a turkey free deal. Pillsbury flour is two for $4. Nestle Toll House morsels are three bags for $7. Value Choice peanut butter $1.99.
• Kmart in Monroe has Xtra laundry soap at two for $11. All cold weather accessories for the family are 40 percent off. Joe Boxer women’s fleece $5. A Proctor-Silex roaster is $29.99. All skateboards on sale.
• Dollar General (you’ll find this flier inside a coupon book) has Crisco shortening at $2, Libby’s canned veggies at two for $1, Ocean Spray cranberry sauce at $1. Nestle Toll House morsels are $2.35 a bag. Jell-O pudding mix 70 cents. 20-inch wreath $3.50.
• Meijer has a two-week sale on selected gift items include assorted Barbie dolls for $7.44, Webkinz at $9.99 and Imaginext Dragon World Fortress at $34.99. Buy $10 in any combination of Nabisco cookies and crackers, get $10 off selected Mattel games. The grocery flier has milk at $1.75 a gallon. Buy one get two free Dynamo laundry soap (this deal always goes fast). Pioneer sugar $2.49 for 5 pounds.
• CVS has Tide 2x at $5.96, see coupon in today’s Sunday papers. Buy one get one free Revlon lipstick. The 10 for $10 items include Gold Emblem toffee popcorn. Buy $50 in iTunes cards get $10 Extra Care Bucks back. Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree 18 inches tall $7.99. Spend $20 in selected colf and flu relief such as Ricola’s and Dayquil get $10 Extra Care Bucks back.
• Kroger in Monroe, Milan and Dundee (sale starts Monday) has a 10 Mega Sale that features items such as Coke 2-liters, Edy’s ice cream, Carnation evaporated milk and Kraft singles. Milk is $1.75 a gallon. Del Monte canned veggies two for $1. Buy one get one free Bob Evans rolled sausage.
• Big Lots has mini light sets at three for $10. 13-piece cookware set is $49. Open stock dinnerware pieces $2 each. Harvest floral 30 percent off.
• Walgreens has buy one get one free on NatureMade vitamins. Coupon in flier for Russell Stover boxed candy. Campbell’s chicken soup 50 cents each. 3 cup rice cooker $7.99 (we have that one, my daughter likes it). Coupon in flier for 12-month photo calendar. Milk is $1.89 a gallon.
• Crafts 2000 flier is in the Monroe newspaper today. I already did a roundup on it because I caught the flier at the store. But do note the coupon on the back and the variety of supplies to make handcrafted Christmas ornaments.
• Target has buy two get one free on Wii games with more than 80 titles available. All floor care deep cleaning solutions on sale (think cleaning before the guests arrive). Buy three boxes Kellogg’s cereal get one free.
• Aldi has milk at $1.69 a gallon. Friendly Farms marshmallow mocha and pumpkin spice coffee creamer $1.49. Beaumont gourmet ground coffee $3.99. Kids’ playhouse tent $16.99 assorted designs. Belmont pumpkin pie $2.99 each.
• Toys R Us has buy $75 worth of “qualifying purchases” through Nov. 26 (read that fine print) get $10 gift card. Free Toy Story backpack with purchase $30 or more Toy  Story items. Featured items include Playmobile Pyramid at $83.99 (this and the related pieces look cool.)

Items I noticed in the other store fliers this morning include:

• Best Buy has assorted cameras and computers on sale. Get a $5 Best Buy gift card when you buy two selected holiday title DVDs.
• Sears has a Craftsman tool sale this week. A Rival Duo Crock server is $53.99. All men’s jeans are on sale.
• Dunham’s Sports has sale on assorted basketball shoes.
• Menards has mini shatterproof ornaments 24 count at $1.49 each.
• Dick’s Sporting Goods has selected kids’ basketball shoes are on sale.