I'm looking for a new bike, I do a lot of ride to work & school & around, but I am hoping on doing some bike touring this summer, I'm a college student that lives at home still, witch really means i don't have much money. Its like a 12 mile ride to school, even in the cold, as best I can, I live in IL its not nice. I have been riding a Giant OCR3 for some time till I ran into a car & broke it around Thanks Giving. I have been riding a old Swinn Continental along with that.
So Im looking for a new bike I don't really know what would be the best, I have looked at Touring spiciffic & cyclocross bikes, but i still have not found what I want.

I have really been looking at Specialized Tricross Sport, & dreaming of a Cannondale Touring.

Im kindof looking for more of a Steel or Aluminum bike, carbon for scare me just because when I crashed my OCR3 that was the big thing that went wrong,

Im not that educated in bike, I just learn as it come. So any help will help me. Like on what bikes i should be looking for, or what would also work, again Im not rich, so cheep is good, but I am one for quality,I dont realy know what more to say.

thanks for any help