The Credit Shifu

Is the Amex Gold Still Worth It in 2026?

The video examines whether the American Express Gold Card remains a worthwhile expense in 2026, using the creator’s 2025 spending data and early‑2026 activity as a benchmark. It breaks down annual grocery and dining spend, points earned, and the various credits attached to the card, then compares those earnings against the $325 annual fee. In 2025 the author logged $19,897 total spend, generating 39,028 Membership Rewards points valued between $390 and $781 depending on redemption method. Credits—including $84 Dunkin’, $120 Uber, $10 dining, and $44.54 restaurant credits—totaled $2,282, leaving a shortfall of roughly $43 against the fee. After accounting for points, net value ranged from $293 to $683, confirming the card covered its cost but left limited upside. Key moments include the “end‑of‑year summary” tool that revealed under‑utilized dining credits and the discovery of a GrubHub workaround to capture the $120 dining credit each year. The creator admits to missed opportunities in 2025 but outlines a concrete plan for 2026: fully maxing all credits, leveraging the new restaurant credit, and anticipating roughly 20,000 points each in grocery and dining categories, which should produce about $99 profit after fees. The analysis underscores that disciplined tracking and monthly credit utilization are essential to extract the card’s full value. For consumers who consistently capture credits and optimize point redemption, the Amex Gold can generate net profit; otherwise, it risks becoming a cost center.