The small card perk that made our day — and gave us free cheesecake

I don't know where I first heard the saying that, when you look back, "It's the little things that are really the big things." But it's a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree. Especially after the last year we all had, small things can be big.

For kids, letting them stay up well beyond bedtime to watch a funny movie with you, or unexpectedly bringing their favorite lunch and eating with them at school (back when that was possible) — those things matter. So, while I like to use credit card perks and miles to go big, I also enjoy the smaller perks.

It had been a long time since we went to the mall to pick up a few things and grab a snack. What was once a pretty mundane experience on the to-do list, was now a little foreign and exciting for my kids. My oldest became a full-fledged tweenager during the pandemic and 'shopping' in stores is now fun in her mind.

So while we were out doing a little shopping and strolling, we passed The Cheesecake Factory and a lightbulb went off in my mind. I remembered that we actually have a credit card that could give us a slice for free.

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I've had the American Express® Gold Card in my wallet for a few years now, and while I love racking up 4x points per dollar at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in U.S. supermarket purchases each calendar year; then 1x), it also has two built-in monthly $10 credits you can use towards food (up to $120 annually).

The first is a $10 monthly Uber credit that can be used for U.S. rides or Uber Eats orders (up to $120 in annual Uber Cash). This was actually just added to the card this year. (Note: Card must be added to your Uber account to receive this benefit).

But the second $10 monthly credit is valid at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar, and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required. (Just be sure you register for this credit prior to use.) Enrollment required for select benefits.

Related: Why the Amex Gold is a great card for families

A $10 monthly dining credit wouldn't cover much during a full-blown family dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, but it's just enough for a slice of cheesecake to go. I asked the girls if they wanted to go in and pick out a slice of any piece of cheesecake they wanted, and you know their answer. It's basically like taking kids to a very fancy candy store.

Like everything at the Cheesecake Factory, the by-the-slice menu is hilariously long. But whether you choose original or strawberry, peppermint bark or chocolate cheesecake, they all cost around $10 a slice (at least here in Texas).

One carefully selected, kid-friendly slice of Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake and a small tip for the cashier later, and we were on our way out the door having spent just over $10 on the Amex Gold card — almost the exact amount of the monthly credit.

That one slice was plenty for the family to share after dinner that night, and the girls had a ton of fun with the whole thing.

Bottom line

Getting a slice of cheesecake for free other than just a little overage for the tip thanks to the Amex Gold dining credit is, unquestionably, a small thing. But continuing a family tradition of taking turns picking out a slice of cheesecake when we are at the mall felt like a nice, familiar outing that we hadn't done in far too long.

Related: Worked like a charm: How I discovered a new (favorite) restaurant thanks to the Amex Gold dining credit