I like to have something to sip on almost all the time, so for a healthier and cheaper option than soda, this is what I do:  take a tall glass, put in an inch or two of fruit juice, and fill it up with plain water and sparkling water (about half-and-half, but can vary depending on how sparkling I want it).  I vary the flavors.  If you are a cola drinker, try prune juice --just don't drink too many of them ; )

That's a good idea... You can also try adding the sparkling water to kool-aid for another cheap and non-caffinated drink.

I use a few drops of lime juice in a glass of water. That's yummy, too.

I make iced tea by the gallon when my gks come over.  About 10 good quality tea bags, 1 c. sugar (or to taste) and 1/2 c. lemon juice.  If I have time I brew it in the sun in a big glass jar. If I need it quickly, I brew the tea with about half the water and when it's done I add the rest of the water cold. Add the sugar and lemon after the tea is brewed.  Sprigs of mint can be added when brewing the tea.
Lemonade is quick and easy too. For a 1/2 gallon, use 1 c. lemon juice and 1 c. sugar and add cold water.  Kids (and adults) love it.

Personally, I like the tea with just the lemon but the family likes it with sugar and lemon.

A few drops of lime or lemon juice in a glass of soda water suites me fine.

Ive been making my own Iced Tea lately too, though using honey as a sweetner isn't cheap, nor is buying tea from Teavana. But it can be inexpensive!

Trying to drink plain water just doesn't work for me - even though everyone tells me "it doesn't taste" - well...... I just don't like the taste. What I do is take a 1 liter bottle and just put two teaspoons of Country Time pink lemonade in the bottle and shake it up. It gives it just enough taste so that I really like it - and the small canister of lemonade lasts me quite a long time, and the calories are almost zip.

I've been doing a similar thing. The bottled fruit juices and sodas are so packed with corn syrup they are too sweat to me. So in a glass I put 1 part water, 1 part juice or cola.

I guess water won't do, huh? :P

(I'm kidding, I'm a recovering Diet Pepsi addict myself)

I like True Lemon, Lime and Orange in my water.  I gave up soda about 9 months ago and the only time I have some is when I make the Hungry Girl 100 cal margaritas which calls for diet sprite (or the like). 

You know those Pop-Ice (not pop as in soda) thingies? They are like thin plastic tubes of colored/flavored liquid? Usually come in a box of 100 or so? I got a box on clearance last year and they've just been sitting around. I had a few frozen and decided to open it, squeeze it into my ice water cup and see if it flavored it up. It did! If there are ANY calories in one of those, they're negligible.

since my ulcer is act up . i do allow myself small coffee. but otherwise i drink crystal light caffine free it awesome.