How I Use the American Specific Gold Card to Save Cash and Earn Journey Rewards 

The American Specific® Gold Card used to only be considered the “little brother” of the vaunted Platinum Card. However in 2018, Amex made some adjustments to this card that turned it right into a powerhouse in its personal proper, however provided that you know the way to maximise its options and advantages. I’ve had this card since shortly after it was launched, and right here’s how I’ve managed to get probably the most worth from it.

How the American Specific Gold Card works

New candidates earn 35,000 factors after spending $2,000 on new purchases inside three months of account opening. You additionally earn 4X Membership Rewards® factors at eating places worldwide, and 4X factors on as much as $25,000 spent every year at U.S. supermarkets, then 1X. It additionally affords you 3X Membership Rewards® factors on flights booked immediately with airways or on amextravel.com, and one level per greenback spent elsewhere.

Different advantages embody as much as a $10 month-to-month credit score in the direction of purchases from Grubhub, Seamless, The Cheesecake Manufacturing facility, Ruth’s Chris Steak Home, Boxed, and collaborating Shake Shack areas. You additionally obtain an annual airline payment credit score of as much as $100 for incidental charges at one chosen qualifying airline. There’s a $250 annual payment for this card, and no international transaction charges. (See charges and costs.)

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squeeze probably the most worth from the American Specific Gold Card

I obtained the cardboard in 2018 and I rapidly went to work using its advantages. First, it turned the one card that I used for all U.S. grocery store and restaurant purchases, and the 4x factors I earned allowed me to rake within the rewards. Subsequent, I made positive to make the most of the cardboard’s $10 month-to-month credit score in the direction of featured eating places. At first, I largely simply purchased a slice of cheesecake to go from the Cheesecake manufacturing facility, as soon as every month. The cheesecake was scrumptious and price about $8 after taxes, and I all the time added a tip to carry the entire to precisely $10, the quantity eligible for the credit score. I used it at Shake Shack as soon as earlier than I found that I might order lunch from a close-by Thai restaurant utilizing Grubhub. Like my slice of cheesecake, the entire was about $8 after taxes, and I simply added gratuity to spherical it as much as $10.

I additionally designated a Southwest as my airline to get the $100 annual payment credit score. In each 2017 and now in 2018, I’ve been ready to make use of the payment credit score for purchases like in-flight drinks, in-flight wifi and early boarding privileges. So by the point I attain the primary anniversary of my account, I’ll have acquired $120 in restaurant credit and a complete of $200 in airline payment credit, for a direct worth of $320. That is greater than the $250 annual payment, so I’m really popping out $70 forward in my first 12 months as a cardholder. In my second 12 months as a cardmember, I’ll solely have the ability to obtain the $100 payment credit score as soon as, which mixed with the $120 in restaurant credit will go away me with a web price of $30. However after I mix 12 months one and 12 months two of my account, I’ll nonetheless be $40 forward.

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use American Specific Gold Card factors

The American Specific Membership Rewards program has 19 airline switch companions, and you’ll obtain super worth from transferring your factors to miles, and utilizing these miles for costly flights. It additionally has three resort switch companions, and I’ve saved cash by transferring my factors to Hilton Honors factors at a 1:2 ratio.

Backside line

When you do the mathematics, will probably be straightforward to see why the American Specific® Gold Card is such an important worth. It offers you the possibility to earn plenty of bonus factors, with out having to pay the massive annual payment of the Platinum Card. And once you use these factors correctly, you’ll go farther and pay lower than you may need ever thought potential.

Intro picture by Kaspars Grinvalds through Shutterstock