How do I do it all? (this is long, I'm sorry!)

Ok, so here's my story. It all starts back in about 1998. Before I married my now ex, I worked at a department store, where I got my first credit card. I only had a $200 limit and it was always maxed out. After we got married, I quit my job and then I became addicted to spending, whether it was on Ebay or whatever. I was a depressed, stay-at-home mom to a then 1 year old. Everyday was just a going through the motions sort of thing, living in a small two bedroom apartment in a complex that was for low income families. I discovered websites like Fingerhut and tried selling Avon, but I ended up wanting most of it for myself, so that didn't work out too well. I eventually got a job with a chain pharmacy, where temptation to spend was everywhere! I was there for about a year and a half, when I was a mom again. In the meantime, I ruined my credit and my husband and I divorced. I moved into a little one bedroom while he had our daughter. I had to try and get my feet back on land. I waited tables and didn't spend any money at all. I ended up in a relationship with a man that wasn't right for me but I realized that way too late.

I moved away and left everything behind, which was the biggest mistake of my life. I seeped into depression again, due in part because of my "beloved" emotionally abusing me on a daily basis. I finally wised up and moved back home. I got a job and started saving up for my own place. In the meantime, I met the man who'd make me the happiest I've ever been. I started patching things up with my daughter, and getting closer to her again. We got our own place and that's where our troubles began.

He couldn't find a job for the first month he was here and my measly $9.00 an hour job wasn't cutting our rent. Granted, we could have moved into a much cheaper place, but by then, it would've been more to cut our lease short. He finally was able to find a job as a computer tech, but it was still living paycheck to paycheck. Bills were always behind (and still are) and we were always threatened to get cut off by the utility company (and we were once). I couldn't get promoted and the promises he'd been made never came to fruition. We eventually were able to move to a cheaper place that is nice for the area and is a good price for what you get, but we're still behind on everything. Rent is late, cable's going to be cut off next week, and I'm currently unemployed. It's put a huge strain on our relationship, but I was offered a CSR spot that starts on the 29th, so I'm relieved on that front.

If we do get married, I want my credit to be in better shape. What's the best way to start consolidating and what's the best program to use? Thanks for reading and I'm sorry it's so long!