wolfchild

I think the cheapest and most practical option would be to get that Schwinn Crossfit fixed or just keep riding your old mountain bike until you can afford something better... Climbing hills has a lot to do with strength and technique.. Standing on the pedals makes it easier to ride up hills then sitting down, a handlebars with bar-ends will also help. Bar-ends give you more leverage which makes it easier to climb hills... An yea avoid bikes with suspension.
Suspension is an unnecessary gimmick. A commuting bike doesn't need suspension