I'm now using a different account on gradcafe because I wanted to be more anonymous. I've deleted my previous posts to this thread.
As I have said, I, too, wish to transfer to another school. Unlike for OldDome, there were no promises of any funding from the very beginning at my current institution. I'm keeping the number of people who know about my plans to transfer to a minimum, so in the case of a rejection, I can stay in my current program, and not too many people will need to know about my plans to transfer in the first place.
I know word can quickly spread, but I'm seriously not too worried about people in my department knowing that I've applied to transfer out. I'm a human being, and I've got to do what makes me happy, and I'll be polite and respectful to the people around me as much as possible while doing so.
For me, I don't think things could get much worse from where I am now, and it's more than just the money. The worst that could happen for me by transferring is that the money won't be any better, but at least I'll be in a place where I know I can be generally happier.