How about this for a suggestion: buy an inexpensive but durable used bike for use as a commuter/grocery-getter, then use whatever remaining funds to get yourself another bike that's FUN to ride, but not a practical commuter/grocery-getter?

I had such a used bike handy - a late '80s Peugeot. With fenders, racks, and bullet-proof wheels it probably weighs twice as much as my new road bike. But on level ground, it's really not that much slower.