<prompt> Human: Married, with mortgage, bad credit, and about 13,000 in credit card debt down from 30,000. We make good money, but were irresponsible for the first few years of our marriage and have been struggling to catch up. We made a lot of late payments and we did a debt consolidation deal a few years back to help us get to this point.Were hoping to get a bigger house within a couple of years ASAP, really and a relative has offered to give us 10,000 right now to help us fix our credit rating so we can do that.Our plan was to keep a little bit in reserve as an emergency fund and then pay down all the little cards and most of the biggest credit card which we owe about 11,000 on and then pay the rest of it off ASAP over the next few months. Three questions:1. Is that a good plan or is there some nuance of improving our credit score that Im not aware of?2. Do we need an accountant or some other kind of professional? If so, how do we find one?3. Are there any tricks to avoid or lower taxes for us andor the relative?  <response>: 1. Thats a good plan. But it doesnt sound like youre in any position to be buying a new house soon.2. No.3. There are no taxes. 