Amex Gold Card Cash Back: A Comprehensive Guide

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The American Express Gold Card offers a competitive cash back rewards program, with a base earn rate of 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 in combined purchases per year.

To maximize your cash back earnings, it's essential to understand how the card's rewards structure works.

You can earn 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide, which can add up quickly for frequent diners.

Welcome Offer

The American Express Gold Card has a welcome offer that's worth looking into. You can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

This offer is worth up to $1,200 based on TPG's July 2024 valuations. It's a great way to get started with the card and start earning rewards.

The Amex Gold Card's welcome offer isn't the only way to earn points, but it's a solid starting point. You'll get the most value from the Membership Rewards program by transferring points to partner hotel and airline loyalty programs.

Some key transfer partners to note include Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and Hilton Honors. These partnerships can help you get the most value out of your points.

Remember, Amex regularly offers transfer bonuses that can give you up to 40% extra value from your points.

Earning Rewards

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You can earn rewards while shopping online, including money, discounts, and rewards, by taking advantage of online shopping rewards and cash back programs.

Some credit cards, like American Express, offer cash back as a rewards benefit, allowing you to earn back a small percentage of each eligible purchase.

Cash back typically ranges from 1% to 3% of each transaction, but some cards offer higher rewards rates, such as up to 6% cash back on certain spending categories.

Rewards are often earned in the form of Reward Dollars, which accumulate until you decide to redeem some or all of them.

Benefits and Perks

The American Express Gold Card offers some amazing benefits and perks that can make it a valuable addition to your wallet. The card comes with a $120 annual dining credit, which can be used at select partners like Grubhub, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, and Wine.com.

You'll get $120 (doled out in monthly $10 credits) on your account that can be applied toward purchases made with these partners. Credits will be applied within two to four weeks of your purchase posting to your account, and these monthly credits don't roll over from month to month, so be sure to use them.

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The card also offers up to $120 a year in Uber Cash, which can be earned by adding the Gold card to your Uber account and paying for rides with any AmEx card. You'll automatically get $10 in Uber Cash each month for U.S. Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.

You can also earn up to $100 in annual statement credits ($50 semi-annually) after enrolling your card and making eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants on the Resy app or on Resy.com, as well as up to $84 in statement credits ($7 per month) after enrolling your card and paying at any U.S.-based Dunkin' location.

Here are the annual credits you can earn with the American Express Gold Card:

  • $120 annual dining credit
  • Up to $120 a year in Uber Cash
  • Up to $100 Resy credit
  • Up to $84 Dunkin' credit

These benefits can effectively cancel out the card's $325 annual fee, making it a great value for those who use them.

Rewards and Cash Back

The Amex Gold Card offers a rewards and cash back program that can be a game-changer for frequent foodies and grocery shoppers.

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You can earn 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year, and 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year.

To put this into perspective, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and restaurants, you'll earn 48,000 points per year, worth around $480.

Here's a breakdown of the annual credits you can earn with the Amex Gold Card:

  • $120 annual dining credit
  • Up to $120 a year in Uber Cash
  • Up to $100 Resy credit
  • Up to $84 Dunkin' credit

These credits can effectively cancel out the card's $325 annual fee, making it a valuable option for those who can take advantage of them.

What Is Cash Back?

Cash back is a type of rewards program that's designed to give you money back on your purchases. It's a simple way to earn cash or credit on your credit card statement.

American Express offers cash back credit cards that can help you earn cash back on your spending. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, credit card holders tend to prefer cash back rewards over points or miles, possibly due to how simple and flexible cash back credit cards can be.

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You can earn cash back in various ways, such as through a percentage of your purchase or a fixed amount for specific categories. For example, the American Express Gold Card offers 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets, which can be redeemed for cash back.

The value of cash back rewards depends on how you redeem them. Assuming an average redemption value of 1 cent per point, 48,000 points would be worth about $480, according to the article.

To maximize your cash back rewards, consider using your credit card for everyday purchases, such as groceries and dining. If you spend at least $4,075 per year on groceries and dining combined, you'll come out ahead on the $325 annual fee for the American Express Gold Card.

Here's a breakdown of the cash back rewards offered by the American Express Gold Card:

  • 4 points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide on up to $50,000 per calendar year
  • 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year
  • Up to $120 annual dining credit, broken into monthly $10 credits
  • Up to $10 in monthly Uber Cash for U.S. Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S.
  • Up to $100 Resy credit, broken into two $50 bi-annual credits

Remember to enroll through the Amex website to take advantage of these benefits, and use your credit card for purchases at participating merchants to earn cash back.

Payment Options for Flight Bookings

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If you're looking to earn rewards on your flight bookings, consider using a card like the Amex Gold.

This card earns 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly through the airline or Amex Travel.

You'll also get up to $1,250 in coverage for carry-on baggage and up to $500 for checked baggage if your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged during travel.

Redeeming Cash Back Rewards

To redeem your Reward Dollars, simply enter the amount you'd like to use as a credit toward your next statement balance, and the credit will usually appear within three days. Note that the statement credit won't apply to the minimum payment due portion of your balance.

You can also use your cash back rewards on Amazon. To do this, go to www.amazon.com/amexcashback and complete your registration. Then, link your Card Account to your Amazon.com account and shop as usual.

One thing to keep in mind is that your cash back rewards won't expire as long as your Card's account is in good standing.

Tracking and Management

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Tracking and management is key to maximizing the benefits of the Amex Gold Card cash back. To stay on top of your rewards, set up a system to track your spending and points earnings.

You can estimate your annual spend on groceries and restaurants by calculating your monthly expenses. For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and restaurants, that's $12,000 per year.

The Amex Gold Card offers 4x points per dollar spent in these categories, which translates to 48,000 points per year. You can redeem these points for cash back, with a value of about 1 cent per point, making 48,000 points worth around $480.

To get the most out of your rewards, consider tracking your points earnings and cash back opportunities. You can also use your Amex Gold Card to earn additional rewards, such as Uber Cash and hotel credits, which can add up to a significant amount.

Cost and Value

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The American Express Gold Card has an annual fee of $325. This fee is steep, but for those who maximize the card's annual credits and spend plenty in the card's bonus categories, it's worth every penny.

The card offers over $400 in annual benefits, including a $120 annual dining credit, up to $120 a year in Uber Cash, up to $100 Resy credit, and up to $84 Dunkin' credit.

To put this into perspective, if you use Uber and visit The Cheesecake Factory at least once a month, maximizing these credits is easier than rolling off a log. But if you wouldn't normally spend money this way, the credits might not be as valuable as they seem.

Here's a breakdown of the card's annual benefits:

The card's rewards rate is 1x-4x, and it offers a bonus of 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months. The ongoing APR is 29.49%, and there is no foreign transaction fee.

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For those who can't maximize the card's annual credits and bonus categories, a card with comparable rewards but without the annual fee might be a smarter choice. The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one such option, offering 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores.

Mike Kiehn

Senior Writer

Mike Kiehn is a seasoned writer with a passion for creating informative and engaging content. With a keen interest in the financial sector, Mike has established himself as a knowledgeable authority on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), particularly in the UK market. Mike's expertise extends to providing in-depth analysis and insights on REITs, helping readers make informed decisions in the world of real estate investment.

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