Before you apply you will need to sit down and work out exactly what you have made. There is no allowance given for even being a penny under. I'm not the best at working out employment income (we used savings) but the others will help you with that if you need it.
You do have to prove that your relationship is genuine. We had a couple married 20 years or thereabouts refused because they didn't provide enough good relationship evidence. Don't underestimate how important each element of the application is.
Have you recently returned to the UK from the US yourself? Do you have accommodation sorted out for the application?
I visited the US for around 5 weeks for xmas and new year, my income before my visit was over the required amount you'd have to earn each week, not sure how long before i had enough, but i've been doing the same hours since i returned home in January, only worked one 1 day last week, but the income every week starting this week, would cover more than the loss for last week and still remain over the 18,600 and even if i only started counting the 6 months since back in the UK in January, I will easily be over the 18,600 with weekly earnings, not to mention it will be a few months or so before i'd have saved the funds to pay for it all, so I have no worries on the financial side of things.
As for accomodation, I've had my place since January 2008, so no worries on there either, I rent but that's unimportant as it's a stable home.
During my time of saving, we'll be using this time to gather all information/documentation required and getting an understanding of the process to ensure we go through the process best as possible, she also needs to go through process of changing her name and getting a passport, so the more we understand beforehand the better as we can properly plan it all ready and have everything lined up ready to apply.
If you are non-salaried (ie. paid by the hour) you have to meet financial requirement by averaging your monthly pay from the 6 months prior to your application multiplied by 12 to get a yearly average.
(Total gross income from employment held throughout the 6 month period, divided by 6) multiplied by 12 = Income from non-salaried employment that can be counted towards the financial requirement.
Regarding your question with your length of marriage, it does not matter. If you're married, you're married. My wife and I got married and we applied for her visa less than four weeks after.
Are you sure you are talking about the spouse visa and not an unmarried partner visa?
Yes, I understand that, my income on a weekly basis will amount to easily over the income required, I have already worked out what I was earning before the recent change in hours, I will now be earning more again, so I will not need to worry about the income.
and yes I am talking about the spouse visa, we got married back in Janury while I was there.