You definitely can recover a good credit rating, but not instantly. See if there's a credit union you can join. The regular, commercial banks, like Wells Fargo, are out to exploit you. Start with a checking account at a credit union. Down the line, you'll be glad you did. They will loan you money cheaper than the regular banks. After you're with them for a while, see a credit union officer and say you would like a loan to pay off your credit cards. Those credit cards charge well over 20% interest; a lot are close to 30%. That kind of interest will eat you alive. Eventually, you could ask for their credit card. You'll be amazed at how much lower the interest rate will be on a card you get from a credit union. Also, the credit union will have an app for your phone that will do many things for you. It will track your credit rating and give you good tips on what you need to change. When I got a loan from my credit union to pay off my credit card debt, my credit rating immediately went up by a lot.

You really don't need store credit cards. None of them, far as I know, offer reasonable interest rates. One of the things determining your credit rating is the average age of your credit accounts. Every time you get a new card, you lower that average age, which lowers your rating. If you've got several credit cards, consider getting rid of the newest one. That will potentially bump you up a bit. A huge factor is whether you pay on time. Try to pay more than the minimum due when possible. A bankruptcy comes off your credit history in ten years, so the bankruptcy you did in 2000 is no longer relevant. Even creditors who lost money on you because of your bankruptcy will one day happily give you credit again, if you eventually have a better income.

Speaking of income, think about working a second job part-time. Just about anyone can get a job with a home care agency, where you would work as a home attendant for a sick or elderly person. Initially, you could tell them you're available 8 to 12 hours per week. It will pay less than your current job, probably in the neighborhood of $12 to $15 per hour. But it's real flexible, in that you can change your availability to them, based on how many hours your regular job is giving you. You don't need experience. They don't expect home attendants to have the training required of nurse's aids. Making more money would be the fastest way to improve your financial situation.

Another thing to do is curb your spending. Avoid eating out. Feeding yourself at home is a lot cheaper. If you've been eating your lunch in restaurants or from take-out places, start making sandwiches to take to work, or whatever else you can put together. For years I was addicted to eating out - diners, restaurants, ordering pizzas, etc. It was an expensive habit, but I got over it. Now I actually prefer my own cooking. Shop at Walmart, where grocery money will go the furthest. Join Costco or Sam's club, and buy stuff in bulk - like paper towels or toilet paper. Most of my wardrobe is from Sam's club.

Look at what you're spending on entertainment and media. Cable TV is ridiculous. Nowadays you can get an amazing amount of TV channels just using an antenna. If that's not enough, stream from the Internet, using your smart TV or a streaming stick like Roku or Chromecast or Amazon Fire stick. If you're shelling out over $100/month to get cable or satellite, you are never going to get ahead. Watch what you spend on your mobile phone. I subscribe to TracFone because I believe it's the cheapest deal. I've never spent more than $175 for a phone, and I get large screen phones that I'm very happy with.

Canceling credit cards will lower your credit rating. When you get a card paid off, put it away in a drawer. But pull it out and charge a few things on it now and then, so the bank who gave you the card doesn't cancel it. They'll do that if the account stays inactive. Then pay the balance in full when the bill comes.

If you tighten your belt now and practice self-discipline, you can look forward to someday having good credit again, even on a modest income. I went from good credit to horrible credit to very good credit again. So I know it can be done. It does take some time.