Power couple: How I used these two cards for over $4,500 in value in just one year

Let me start with a confession: I currently have 28 open, active credit cards.(Pause for reaction.)Yes, I know that's a lot, but I don't actually use many of them regularly. In fact, the vast majority are what I consider "perk cards" — ones that are worth keeping open but don't get swiped often.However, there are two cards in my wallet that offer an incredible combination of rewards and benefits: the American Express Platinum Card® and the American Express® Gold Card.I recently sat down to tally up the total value I get from this power couple, since both are coming up for renewal before the end of the year. And even I was shocked at the final dollar figure.Here's how I got more than $4,500 in value in 12 months on these two cards alone — and why now might be a great time to add one of them to your own wallet.Related: 4 reasons to hold both the American Express Gold and PlatinumValue of Amex Platinum and Amex GoldHere's how I calculated the value I received. For starters, I considered each card's quantifiable statement credits and divided them into three categories:Purchases I would've made anywayNice to use, but not necessaryBenefits that don't fit my spending habitsReward your inb...