Last week’s start of the new Credit Card Accountability Act has had a number of unexpected consequences (well, only unexpected in the fact that we didn’t know how credit card companies were going to stick it to us next). A week and a half has brought clarity to the new threats that threaten (good use of the same word twice, Hemingway) our financial lives. Some new tricks, like inactivity fees, could seriously damage our financial standing. While other tricks, such as credit card rewards shenanigans, will only serve to frustrate us.

Because credit card companies are forced to change the ways in which they capitalize on our financial mistakes, they have turned to an age old solution: cutting expenses. They are doing this by jacking around their rewards programs. Yes, credit cards have all sorts of crazy rewards programs. These types of programs have been increasingly popular as companies realize that Americans will rob Peter to pay Paul (that is, of course, if they have one son named Peter and another named Paul). Rewards programs really got popular in the 80’s when people would smoke cases of cigarettes to simply earn points to buy stupid crap. Nothing says classy quite like a Joe Camel Mountain Bike. Or how about that Marlboro TV table set? These tobacco rewards proved two things: 1) people are easily tricked by these rewards programs 2) people still had trouble reading Surgeon General warnings.

Which brings us back to your credit card. Some of these cards are linked to airlines. Some are linked to Disney. And some are linked to online gift certificate stores. Well, the stores’ prices just went up. Credit card companies will be raising the “point price” of items in order to give you less bang for your buck. Thus, they are cutting expenses. Thus, they making more money in yet another unorthodox way. Therefore, you need to use your points NOW. Log on, and use your points as soon as possible. Earning points is about to get harder, and the price of rewards are going to go up. Do it now. Just don’t buy a ashtray with your rewards points.