Hunny, Thanks so much!
The good thing is that we're just really starting out. My fiance makes just at bit more than you mentioned right now, so it won't be a huge hit for her. I'm currently making close to 40k, this was a job I took before I got my bachelor's. The only problem with my job currently is that because I am a temp, the benefits suck! I don't get a whole lot of vacation time or sick pay, and the health benefits are so-so.
Hi Kosh, no problem - I love helping people in any way I can. If they can avoid some of our educational experiences (mistakes) along the way, all the better!
Sounds like you guys are figuring things out at the right time. We often wonder if we had just uprooted earlier, how much different out lives might have been. The road not taken, I guess.
Since you are both accustomed to smaller salaries, you'll have room to grow and not be so surprised at salary differences elsewhere. If you pick a state w/o income tax, then you'll be that much further ahead. Your biggest to-do items right now are finding a new city to call home, and saving up for the move. It might be an easier transition financially if one of you makes the move first, secures employment, and then the other follows behind a few months later. We were apart for 6 months while I stayed back to sell our home. It sucked royally to be apart, but it did lessen the financial impact.
Oh, and if you happen to go that route and are married by the time you move, your spouse can resign from her position as a result of you being employed in a different state. She may then file for unemployment, which will give you a little cushion while she finds a new job. We didn't know this when we moved. I absolutely loved my job and made sure they were aware of why I was resigning, both in my resignation letter and in our face to face conversations.
After I made the move, I was talking to a recruiter friend, who asked if I had filed for UI yet. I told her no, since I quit my job. She reminded me that I had to quit, due to my husband's job being relocated. She was right. UI wasn't granted immediately, but once I provided documentation (the resignation letter and a copy of hubby's out of state pay-stub), they granted me the benefit. It really helped, and I was able to find the "right" new job, not the "right now" job.
Oh, and one more tidbit, since you mentioned moving someplace warm. Weather is certainly a factor, but coming from NY, you may want to determine how you feel about religion and politics, especially if you move to the south. We didn't think it would be a big deal, and for the most part, it's not. But it is a consideration. Overall, we are happy here, even w/a few minor pet peeves! ;)