Use savings strategies at the supermarketThe last time that Coke or Pepsi was only $2.50 for a 12-pack was probably New Year's weekend, but this week Target is selling Pepsi for $2.50 through Saturday. That's a great deal and a reminder of a grocery store shopping tip: Keep track of how often your favorite items go on sale and buy enough to last until the next sale (without spoiling), said Champlin's Karen Gunter, who posts her expertise at Creative Couponing (www.creative couponing.com).

Gunter said that about once a month, Rainbow puts General Mills cereals on sale, usually with a coupon for free milk and eggs. In April, look for ConAgra deals on Healthy Choice, Orville Redenbacher and Chef Boyardee. If she has coupons that have expired by the time the next sale starts, she shops at Cub, which accepts manufacturers' coupons up to 90 days after their expiration dates.

Wal-Mart updated its coupon policy this month and now accepts checkout coupons (also called Catalinas) from competitors' registers. The discounter also will accept coupons that exceed the price of the item. For example, if you have a $1 off coupon for an item that costs 50 cents, Wal-Mart will give you change or apply the credit to the total.

Target will accept competitors' checkout coupons only if they say "manufacturers' coupon" across the top. Target also will accept coupons for more than the price of the item and will apply credit to the total but will not give cash back.

Reader Ginger Klietz of Fridley wondered why there were six to eight fewer pages of coupons in Sunday's Red Plum and SmartSource inserts in the Pioneer Press than in the Star Tribune.

"Are the coupon companies deeming St. Paulites a less desirable demographic?" she asked.

Star Tribune file, Star Tribune
The Restoration Hardware on Grand Avenue is closing.

No, said a representative of Valassis, which publishes the Red Plum coupons. More-populated areas have a higher coupon distribution. In short, more people, more coupons.

Restoration closingRestoration Hardware in St. Paul (791 Grand Av., 651-228-3033) will close March 26. Everything is discounted 60 percent. Don't get too excited if you spy a favorite piece of furniture through the window. Most larger pieces are already marked "sold," and no new pieces are being added. A fair number of textiles remain, including the overpriced cashmere robes ($100 after the discount). The Edina store will remain open.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. If you spot a deal, share it at www.startribune.com/dealspotter.