I have a five year old Specialized Sirrus. It's a hybrid city/road bike. I used to use it for commuting to work before I got a job working from home. Now I use it to get around town, since I live in a city where parking is at a premium. It's a nice bike, fairly maneuverable. It needs some TLC and I really need to get a new seat, but it gets me by. I need to get my wife a good bike as well so we can ride together. There's a huge difference between a $100 Wal-Mart special and a real good bike.
My husband bought a bike a year ago and it wasn't long before I ended up with one. I have a Giant Liv Alight named Coriander Pedals-- I felt like the price was great for my level of commitment. The two of us have been able to ride together and it's definitely my favorite part of owning a bike.