American Express: a guide to the cards
Five Amex cards, a points strategy, the welcome bonus and Amex Offers: how to save thousands of dollars in the US.
How to use Amex cards, earn points and cashback and save thousands of dollars in the US. Five cards, a points strategy and Amex Offers.
Amex Gold · restaurants and groceries
The main plus: a lot of points for ordinary everyday purchases.
Who it suits
- Often eats at restaurants
- Buys groceries
- Orders Uber Eats / DoorDash
- Loves to travel
How to use it correctly
- Pay for groceries and restaurants with this card
- Don't spend points on small purchases
- Save points for flights and travel
- Keep an eye on the Amex Offers section
Amex Platinum · premium for travel
Important: part of the annual fee is recouped through bonuses.
What it gives
- Access to airport business lounges
- Hotel bonuses and discounts
- Uber credits and travel benefits
- VIP privileges
How to use it correctly
- Buy flights with this card
- Use the airport lounges
- Activate all bonuses in the app
- Use the hotel and travel credits
Blue Cash Everyday · simple cashback
The main plus: simple cashback with no complications, a good start for credit history.
Who it suits
- Gas and fill-ups
- Supermarkets and groceries
- Online purchases
How to use it correctly
- Use it for everyday purchases
- Always pay on time
- Don't keep a big debt on the card
Blue Cash Preferred · more cashback
The main plus: families get back hundreds of dollars of cashback a year.
Who it suits
- Spends a lot on groceries
- Often fills up the car
- Pays for subscriptions
How to use it correctly
- Use it for groceries and gas
- Enroll in Amex Offers
- Try to pay off the balance in full
Amex Business · for business and the self-employed
The main plus: big limits and a huge number of business points.
Who it suits
- Own business or LLC
- Self-employment
- Running ads
- Business expenses
How to use it correctly
- Pay for advertising and subscriptions
- Run business purchases through it
- Pay for travel with this card
- Separate personal and business expenses
Strategy: how to earn the most points
60,000 – 150,000+ points. People get the most points precisely for the welcome bonus, for spending a certain amount in the first months.
The American Express app has an Offers section: discounts and cashback, bonus points, free credits. Many people don't use Offers at all and lose money.
Use Amex wisely: watch the Offers, save points for travel and collect the welcome bonus. And the card will start working for you.