One of the top benefits of the American Express Platinum card is the $100 annual credit that can be used at Saks Fifth Avenue stores.

However, American Express provides this credit in two $50 installments each year, and any unused amount does not roll over. This can make it difficult to fully take advantage of the credit if you don't find $50 worth of items during each 6-month period.

Luckily, there is a simple way to aggregate the full $100 credit and use it all at once - purchase $50 Saks gift cards in store when the credit is available. When you buy gift cards at Saks Fifth Avenue locations with your Amex Platinum, the transactions will trigger the annual statement credit. Remember, you have to purchase these gift cards in store. Purchasing the gift cards online will not trigger the credit.

By purchasing gift cards twice a year, once for each $50 credit, you can save the full value on your Saks purchases. Once the gift cards total $100, you have the flexibility to make a large purchase or split it across multiple items to get the most value from the annual statement credit.

DealsHQ has been using this gift card trick for the past three years to maximize the Saks Fifth Avenue credit that comes with the Amex Platinum (but as always, YMMV). It ensures we don't lose any of the annual $100 value and have it available to apply to a purchase of our choosing.

If you carry the Amex Platinum, don't let that $100 Saks credit go to waste. Buy gift cards in store when each half of the credit becomes available to pool the full amount for future shopping.

Even if you don't go in store, you can still maximize your Saks credit by shopping deals at DealsHQ.