What I would look for.

John, I've had my license just over a year, but have only had a rig for a few months, a VX-1R dual band HT. I enjoy my radio as it not only covers the 2M & 70cm ham bands but it also has extended receive, everything from AM broadcast to 999Mhz. However as I'm on a budget too, and if I were buying my first radio today I think I would go with a mobile rig, instead of an HT. That way if you feel like you want to get involved with something like emergency comms (RACES, SKYWARN ect)you'll have the pwr. Just a thought, like I said I enjoy my HT but if you go with one, you might want to build a brick amp to get your signal out there. Right now I'm building the one thats in both the '97 & '99 Handbook.
Tom