When my son Daniel turned 23, we wanted to celebrate in style. We chose Laser Wolf in Brooklyn, an incredible Israeli skewer house with stunning Manhattan skyline views. But like many NYC hot spots, dinner wasn’t cheap.
Fortunately, I had a little trick up my sleeve: Amex Gold Resy credits—and not just one, but four of them! Thanks to strategic credit card planning, I knocked $200 off the bill, making our indulgent night much more budget-friendly. Here’s how I did it.
The Amex Gold Resy Credit: A Hidden Dining Hack
If you have an American Express Gold Card, you might already know about its $10 monthly Uber credit and 4X points on dining. But what many people overlook is the $100 annual Resy dining credit, split into two $50 credits per year—one from January to June 30 and another from July 1 to December 31. The best part? You don’t need to book through Resy to use the credit! As long as the restaurant is on Resy’s list, you can pay with your Amex Gold and get reimbursed. Laser Wolf is on Resy!
Why I Had Four Amex Gold Resy Credits to Use
Here’s where my points-and-miles strategy really shines: I don’t just have one Amex Gold card—I have four in my family.
- I have one.
- Rob (my husband) has one.
- My 22-year-old twins each have one.
Why? Because, like I explained in my “Credit Cards That Are No-Brainers” article, the benefits outweigh the fee so much that it makes sense for me to carry multiple cards in the household.
Breaking Down the Value: $424 in Benefits for a $325 Fee
The Amex Gold’s annual fee is $325. But here’s what you get in return:
- $120 Uber Cash ($10/month) – Works for Uber rides or Uber Eats.
- $120 Dining Credit ($10/month at Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly and more) – Great for takeout and dining.
- $100 Resy Dining Credit ($50 every six months) – Works at Resy-partnered restaurants.
- $84 Dunkin’ Credit ($7/month for Dunkin’ Rewards reloads) – Perfect for coffee lovers.
Total Value: $424
Essentially, I’m getting $424 in value from a (ok, four) $325 card—not even counting the valuable 4x per $1 on dining and groceries that I get with the cards.
The Points Mom’s Got IT!
The Strategy: Using Four Resy Credits in One Meal
Each of my four Amex Gold cards had a $50 Resy credit available (since I hadn’t used the credits yet for the period). Laser Wolf was a Resy-partnered restaurant, so the plan was simple:
- Split the bill into four transactions
- Pay $50 on each Amex Gold card
- Get $50 back per card
- Enjoy a $200 discount on dinner!
Why This Works (and Why You Should Consider It)
If you’re dining at a Resy-partnered restaurant and have multiple Amex Gold cards in your family, you can stack these Resy credits just like I did. Since I’m still paying the fees for my twins’ cards, I take the benefits while they’re still on my payroll. Once they’re on their own, they’ll already have this fantastic card in their wallets!
So, next time you’re planning a big dinner, check if the restaurant is on Resy’s list and maximize those Amex Gold benefits. After all, why pay full price when Amex will foot part of the bill?
